Synthesis of α-Mo2C by Carburization of α-MoO3 Nanowires and Its Electrocatalytic Activity towards Tri-iodide Reduction for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2016.03.003

Abstract

Abstract:

Nanowire-shaped α-MoO₃ was synthesized on a large scale by hydrothermal route. Nanocrystalline α-Mo₂C phase was obtained by the carburization of α-MoO₃ nanowires with urea as a carbon source precursor. The phase purity and crystalline size of the synthesized materials were ascertained by using powder X-ray diffraction. The shape and morphology of synthesized materials were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The electrocatalytic activity of α-Mo₂C for I^-/I₃^- redox couple was investigated by the cyclic voltammetry. The synthesized α-Mo₂C was subsequently applied as counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells to replace the expensive platinum.

Key words: Counter electrode, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Electrocatalytic activity, Molybdenum carbide, Molybdenum oxide

Theerthagiri J.,Senthil R.A.,Buraidah M.H.,Madhavan J.,Arof A.K.. Synthesis of α-Mo₂C by Carburization of α-MoO₃ Nanowires and Its Electrocatalytic Activity towards Tri-iodide Reduction for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2016, 32(12): 1339-1344.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1. XRD patterns of hydrothermally synthesized α-MoO3 (a) and α-Mo2C (b).

Table 1. XRD analysis results of α-MoO3 and α-Mo2C, miller indices, observed inter-planar spacing

Sample	θ (deg.)	Miller indices hkl	Inter-planar spacing (nm)	Intensity (%)
α-MoO₃	6.3	020	0.7028	60
	11.6	110	0.3835	30
	12.9	040	0.3454	100
	13.6	021	0.3279	80
	14.7	130	0.3039	10
	16.9	111	0.2652	20
	17.7	131	0.2536	15
	19.5	150	0.2309	50
	23.1	002	0.1965	15
	24.6	230	0.1852	20
	26.3	211	0.1740	10
	27.6	112	0.1664	10
	28.2	042	0.1631	10
	29.3	081	0.1575	20
	32.2	062	0.1447	15
	33.8	270	0.1386	10
α-Mo₂C	17.3	100	0.2593	20
	18.8	002	0.2432	30
	19.7	101	0.2287	100
	26.0	102	0.1759	10
	30.9	110	0.1501	20

Fig. 2. FE-SEM photographs of α-MoO3 nanowires (a) and α-Mo2C (b).

Fig. 3. HR-TEM images of α-Mo2C.

Fig. 4. Cyclic voltammograms of Pt and α-Mo2C electrode at a scan rate of 100 mV s-1 in 10 mmol/L LiI, 1 mmol/L I2 and 0.1 mol/L LiClO4 as supporting electrolyte in acetonitrile.

Fig. 5. CVs for α-Mo2C electrode at different scan rates (a) and relationship between redox peak current and square root of the scan rates (b).

Fig. 6. Transient-photocurrent response of α-Mo2C under visible light irradiation.

Fig. 7. Photocurrent-voltage curve of DSSC fabricated with α-Mo2C counter electrode.

Fig. 8. Schematic illustration of mechanism of the DSSC fabricated using α-Mo2C counter electrode.

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Synthesis of α-Mo₂C by Carburization of α-MoO₃ Nanowires and Its Electrocatalytic Activity towards Tri-iodide Reduction for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

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