Carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites coated with spindle-shaped Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) are fabricated by a combination of an electrospinning method and a hydrothermal method, and their morphological, structural, and chemical properties are measured by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Xray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For comparison, CNFs and spindle-shaped Fe₂O₃ NPs are prepared by either an electrospinning method or a hydrothermal method, respectively. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with the composites exhibit enhanced open circuit voltage (0.70 V), short-circuit current density (12.82 mA/cm2), fill factor (61.30%), and power conversion efficiency (5.52%) compared to those of the CNFs (0.66 V, 11.61 mA/cm2, 51.96%, and 3.97%) and spindle-shaped Fe₂O₃ NPs (0.67 V, 11.45 mA/cm2, 50.17%, and 3.86%). This performance improvement can be attributed to a synergistic effect of a superb catalytic reaction of spindle-shaped Fe₂O₃ NPs and efficient charge transfer relative to the one-dimensional nanostructure of the CNFs. Therefore, spindle-shaped Fe₂O₃-NPcoated CNF composites may be proposed as a potential alternative material for low-cost counter electrodes in DSSCs.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Ni Nanoparticles-Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Pt-Free Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
  Dong-Hyeun Oh, Bon-Ryul Koo, Yu-Jin Lee, HyeLan An, Hyo-Jin Ahn
  Korean Journal of Materials Research.2016; 26(11): 649.     CrossRef

WS₂-W-WC embedded carbon nanofiber composites were fabricated by using electrospinning method for use in high-performance supercapacitors. In order to obtain optimum electrochemical properties for supercapacitors, WS₂ nanoparticles were used as precursors and the amounts of WS₂ precursors were controlled to 4 wt% (sample A) and 8 wt% (sample B). The morphological, structural, and chemical properties of all samples were investigated by means of field emission photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These results demonstrated that the embedded phases of samples A and B were changed from WS₂ to WS₂-W-WC through carbothermal reaction during carbonization process. In particular, sample B presented high specific capacitance (~119.7 F/g at 5 mV/s), good high-rate capacitance (~60.5%), and superb cycleability. The enhanced electrochemical properties of sample B were explained by the synergistic effect of the using 1-D structure supports, increase of specific surface area, and improved conductivity from formation of W and WC phases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• WS2 Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon Nanofibers for a Pseudocapacitor
  Ki-Wook Sung, Jung Soo Lee, Tae-Kum Lee, Hyo-Jin Ahn
  Korean Journal of Materials Research.2021; 31(8): 458.     CrossRef