Semiconductor nanoparticle/nanofiber composite electrodes
AssigneeSouth Dakota State University
InventorsQiquan Qiao, Prakash Joshi, Hao Fong, David Galipeau, Lifeng Zhang
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Abstract
Composite electrode materials for DSSCs, DSSCs incorporating the composite electrode materials and methods for making the composite electrode materials are provided. The composite electrode materials are composed of semiconductor nanofibers embedded in a matrix of semiconductor nanoparticles. DSSCs incorporating the composite electrode materials exhibit both increased carrier transport and improved light harvesting, particularly at wavelengths of 600 nm or greater (e.g., 600 nm to 800 nm or greater).
Claims20
A composition comprising:
- (a) a nanoparticle matrix comprising a plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles;
- and
- (b) a plurality of semiconductor nanofibers dispersed in the nanoparticle matrix, the plurality of nanofibers having an average diameter of at least 200 nm and an average length of at least 500 nm.
A dye-sensitized solar cell comprising:
- (a) a first electrode comprising a composite electrode material comprising:
- (i) a nanoparticle matrix comprising a plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles;
- (ii) a plurality of semiconductor nanofibers dispersed in the nanoparticle matrix, the plurality of nanofibers having an average diameter of at least 200 nm and an average length of at least 500 nm;
- and
- (iii) a light absorbing material attached to at least some of the semiconductor nanoparticles and semiconductor nanofibers;
- (b) a second electrode;
- and
- (c) an electrolyte layer separating the first and second electrodes.
A method of making a composite electrode material, the method comprising:
- (a) dispersing a plurality of semiconductor nanofibers in a paste comprising semiconductor nanoparticles to provide a composite paste, the semiconductor nanofibers having an average diameter of at least 200 nm and an average length of at least 500 nm;
- (b) sintering the composite paste to provide a composite film;
- and
- (c) sensitizing the composite film with a light absorbing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.