Jet-nebulizer-spray coated copper zinc tin sulphide film for low cost platinum-free electrocatalyst in solar cells

Kirubakaran, D. David; Pitchaimuthu, Sudhagar; Dhas, C. Ravi; Selvaraj, Prabhakaran; Karazhanov, S. Zh.; Sundaram, Senthilarasu

Abstract

The copper zinc tin sulphide (CZTS) alloy is a promising p-type earth abundant alloy that received profound attention as an electron driven dark catalyst in electrocatalytic reduction reaction. We report about fabrication of p-type CZTS film with the jet nebulizer assisted spray (JNS) coating technique. The electrocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized CZTS electrode is studied at tri-iodide reduction reactions and is tested as Pt-free electrocatalyst in proof-of-concept type device. Under identical experimental conditions the CZTS counter electrode- and platinum electrode-based dye-sensitised solar cells result similar photocurrent density of ∼10 mA cm−2. These results encourage applications of the aero-sol controlled spray coated CZTS films as the Pt-free electrocatalyst, where reduction reaction takes a key role in energy conversion and biosensing.

Citation

Kirubakaran, D. D., Pitchaimuthu, S., Dhas, C. R., Selvaraj, P., Karazhanov, S. Z., & Sundaram, S. (2018). Jet-nebulizer-spray coated copper zinc tin sulphide film for low cost platinum-free electrocatalyst in solar cells. Materials Letters, 220, 122-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.02.122

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 25, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2023
• Print ISSN: 0167-577X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 220
• Pages: 122-125
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2018.02.122
• Keywords: Jet-nebulizer spray, CZTS, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Tri-iodide reduction, Pt-free electrocatalyst