Mesoporous NiCo2O4 network constructed from ultrathin-mesoporous nanosheets as high performance electrocatalyst in dye sensitized solar cell

Three-dimensional (3D) mesoporous network provides favorable structural features for ion diffusion, electroactive sites and contact with electrolyte, but fabricating the 3D networks of transition metal oxides is still challenging. Based upon template-free method, NiCo2O4 network constructed from ultrathin mesoporous nanosheets (NiCo2O4 MNN) was designed and synthesized. NiCo2O4 nanosheets (similar to 5 nm of thickness, 2-5 nm of pore diameters) are highly interlaced with each other to form a 3D network and create porous nanostructure. Benefiting from the specific structural advantages, NiCo2O4 MNN delivers superior electrocatalytic performance as counter electrode (CE) in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), with a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.05% than Pt electrode (7.32%). We believe that this research will open a new avenue for the design and development of efficient and cost-effective metal oxides electrocatalysts in DSSC. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.