Nickel-nitride-coated nickel foam as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

This study employs for the first time surface-nitrided Ni foam as a counter-electrode free of Pt and transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) to realize a cost-effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This electrode simultaneously features high catalytic activity for triiodide reduction and high conductivity in a single layer. The nitrided Ni foam is synthesized by nitridation treatment of open-cell Ni foam in an ammonia atmosphere. This electrode presents high catalytic activity on the nitrided surface and easy electron transport ability in the three-dimensional, interconnected metallic structure. This study provides a preliminary design concept for utilizing the nitrided Ni foam as a promising cost-effective counter electrode that does not require expensive Pt and TCO. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.