NiS2 Nanosheet Films Supported on Ti Foils: Effective Counter Electrodes for Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

Ni(OH)(2) nanosheet films were fabricated on Ti foils by a simple hydrothermal method and subsequently converted into NiS2 via a vulcanized post-treatment at high temperature. The resultant NiS2 nanosheet films were applied to quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) as counter electrodes (CEs), showing great electrocatalytic activity with low charge-transfer resistance and high exchange current density in the reduction of the polysulfide electrolyte. An optimized power conversion efficiency up to 2.25% was achieved for the optimum NiS2-based QDSSC, suggesting an 51% enhancement in comparison with that of the QDSSC featuring the Pt CE (1.49%). (C) The Author(s) 2018. Published by ECS.