Synthesis and characterization of (Ni1-xCox)Se2 based ternary selenides as electrocatalyst for triiodide reduction in dye-sensitized solar cells

Ternary metal selenides of (Ni1-xCox)Se-2 with 0 <= x <= 1 were synthesized by using one-step hydro thermal reduction route. The synthesized metal selenides were utilized as an efficient, low-cost platinum free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. The cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that the Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 counter electrode exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity and lower charge transfer resistance at the counter electrode electrolyte interface than the other compositions for reduction of triiodide to iodide. Ternary selenides of Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 offer a synergistic effect to the electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide that might be due to an increase in active catalytic sites and small charge transfer resistance. The DSSC with Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 counter electrode achieved a high power conversion efficiency of 6.02%, which is comparable with that of conventional platinum counter electrode (6.11%). This present investigation demonstrates the potential application of Ni0.5Co0.5Se2 as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.