Mo2C-based binary and ternary nanocomposites as high-efficiency counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Mo-based binary/ternary nanocomposites were designed and prepared via soft template synthesis by combining Mo2C and Bi/Mo2C into mesoporous carbon (MC). The materials were characterized by using various analytical and electrochemical techniques. When Mo2C/MC composites were used as counter electrodes (CEs) in iodide mediated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the cells reached 7.29%, and the performance of DSSC with Bi/Mo2C/MC was 8.06%, which was much higher than that of the cell with Pt CE (7.08%). The excellent electrochemical stability of Mo-based nanocomposites in triiodide/iodide electrolyte indicated that they could be promising alternatives to Pt electrodes in DSSCs. This work provided a new idea for the development of metal/carbide/carbon nanocomposite CE materials for DSSCs.