Pedal to the Metal
December 15, 2016 | Michigan State UniversityEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Our materials scientists engineered molybdenum disulfide to be three times more efficient than its semiconductor phase for dye-sensitized solar cells.
Platinum is not a cheap material. So, to improve dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), which are easy to make and a promising alternative to the standard silica-based panels, researchers turn to ionic compounds. They're inexpensive, but inefficient as counter electrodes due to their poor electrical conductivity.
One lab found a way to change that.
Yun Hang Hu, the Charles and Carroll McArthur Professor of materials science and engineering at Michigan Tech, showed that the flower-like structures of molybdenum disulfide possess a metallic 1T phase with a high conductivity, perfect for DSSCs. The team lays out how flower-like structures in the material improve cell efficiency up to four times in a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
"Solar energy, as an abundant and clean source of energy, is the most promising candidate to replace fossil fuels," says Hu. "In our lab, we're working with materials to not only improve cell performance but also have them fill multiple uses."
The molybdenum-based material Hu and his team use is not the same molybdenite pulled from mines and used as an industrial lubricant. They directly synthesized a 1T metallic molybdenum disulfide film onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). The FTO serves as conductive substrate and the process makes a DSSC counter electrode via a simple temperature-controlled hydrothermal method. The resulting material is 1T metallic flower-structured molybdenum disulfide, which is 107 times more electrically-conductive than 2H bulk molybdenum disulfide (basically, the same natural minerals that comes out of mines.) Consequently, the new material reaches an efficiency of 7.08 percent, which is three times larger than that of DSSCs with counter electrodes of 2H bulk molybdenum disulfide.
This finding opens a new door for the development of pure ionic counter electrodes. Because of how thin DSSCs can be, improving these materials could help bring the power of the sun to almost any surface.
Author Profile
Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Sustainability in the Industry
04/26/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Henry Crandall and Chris Nash of Indium Corporation discuss the company's 90th anniversary and its focus on sustainability. They focus on the benefits of sustainable materials, their compatibility, and value propositions. The conversation also highlights how Durafuse LT technology's role in reducing reflow temperatures is leading to significant cost and energy savings. Nash also touches on downstream sustainability efforts such as using recycled materials for packaging.
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard
04/10/2024 | Michael Ford, Aegis SoftwareNo one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.
iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
04/04/2024 | iNEMIThe International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.