Room‐Temperature Synthesis of Cu2−xE (E=S,Se) Nanotubes with Hierarchical Architecture as High‐Performance Counter Electrodes of Quantum‐Dot‐Sensitized Solar Cells |
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| Authors: | Xin Qi Chen Dr. Zhen Li Dr. Yang Bai Dr. Qiao Sun Prof. Lian Zhou Wang Prof. Shi Xue Dou |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Squires Way, Innovation Campus of University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 2500, New South Wales (Australia), Fax: (+61)?2‐4221‐5731;2. Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079 (China);3. School of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection, Soochow University, 199 RenAi Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123 (China);4. Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland (UQ), QLD 4072 (Australia) |
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| Abstract: | Copper chalcogenide nanostructures (e.g. one‐ dimensional nanotubes) have been the focus of interest because of their unique properties and great potential in various applications. Their current fabrications mainly rely on high‐temperature or complicated processes. Here, with the assistance of theoretical prediction, we prepared Cu2?xE (E=S, Se) micro‐/nanotubes (NTs) with a hierarchical architecture by using copper nanowires (Cu NWs), stable sulfur and selenium powder as precursors at room temperature. The influence of reaction parameters (e.g. precursor ratio, ligands, ligand ratio, and reaction time) on the formation of nanotubes was comprehensively investigated. The resultant Cu2?xE (E=S, Se) NTs were used as counter electrodes (CE) of quantum‐dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) to achieve a conversion efficiency (η) of 5.02 and 6.25 %, respectively, much higher than that of QDSSCs made with Au CE (η=2.94 %). |
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| Keywords: | copper chalcogenides counter electrodes quantum dots nanotubes room‐temperature synthesis |
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