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One-step synthesis of nitrogen-decorated CeO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite and its electrocatalytic activity for triiodide/iodide reduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2020

Liguo Wei Open the ORCID record for Liguo Wei [Opens in a new window] ,
Qinhang Wu ,
Yongsheng Yang ,
Bo Jiang ,
Gonglei Sun ,
Jing Feng ,
Furong Yu ,
Yu Kang  and
Guohua Dong
Liguo Wei*
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Qinhang Wu
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Yongsheng Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Structure Design, Harbin FRP Institute, Harbin 150000, People's Republic of China
Bo Jiang
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Gonglei Sun
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Jing Feng
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Furong Yu
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Yu Kang
Affiliation:
College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150022, People's Republic of China
Guohua Dong*
Affiliation:
Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalytic Synthesis for Fine Chemicals, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, People's Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to these authors. e-mail: xiaole6407@sina.com
b)e-mail: ghdong@qqhru.edu.cn
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Abstract

The nitrogen-decorated CeO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (CeO2/N-rGO) was one-step synthesized by a facile hydrothermal technique and applied as counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For comparison, CeO2/rGO and rGO were also synthesized by adjusting corresponding reactants. It was found that the as-synthesized CeO2/N-rGO shows better electrocatalytic activity for triiodide/iodide reduction than that of pure rGO and CeO2/rGO, and a synergistic effect of nitrogen and CeO2 on the rGO sheets was observed. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs based on CeO2/N-rGO counter electrode was 3.20%, which is higher than that of CeO2/rGO (2.45%) and rGO counter electrode (1.37%). Furthermore, the synergistic effect of nitrogen and CeO2 on the rGO sheets was also discussed in detail with different CeO2 amount levels. It is believed that this one-step synthetic method is a potential way to synthesize low-cost and efficient rGO-based multiple composited counter electrode materials to replace more expensive Pt.

Keywords

photovoltaiccompositecatalytic
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 35 , Issue 11: Focus Section: Heterogeneity in Beyond Graphene 2D Materials , 15 June 2020 , pp. 1461 - 1471
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2020

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