Electrospun carbon nanofibers decorated with Pt-Ni2P nanoparticles as high efficiency counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Carbon nanofibers (CNs) supported by Pt and Ni2P nanoparticles (Pt-Ni2P/CNs) are successfully synthesized and explored as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for the first time. Pt and Ni2P nanoparticles are prepared by stabilization and carbonization of electrospun nanofibers, and subsequently controllable Pt and Ni2P nanoparticles are grown on surface of CNs obtained through redox reaction. A series of electrochemical measurements analysis confirm that the Pt-Ni2 P/CNs composite have simultaneously superior electrocatalytic activity and enhanced electrical conductivity compared with those of individual CNs and Pt. Accordingly, DSSCs using the composite Pt-Ni2P/CNs as a counter electrode exhibit an excellent photovoltaic performance (power conversion efficiency of 9.11%), which is much higher than conventional Pt/CNs counter electrode (power conversion efficiency of 8.35%), owing to the collective effect of the high electrical conductivity originated from carbon nanofibers and superior electrocatalytic activity arising from Pt/CNs nanoparticles. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.