Cu2-xS films as counter-electrodes for dye solar cells with ferrocene-based liquid electrolytes

In this work, the application of hexagonal CuS nanoparticle layers as counter electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells has been studied. A fast, cheap and reliable deposition method was proposed for the one-step preparation of Cu2-xS layers on F-doped SnO2 within 30 min through an ink-based technique. The electrodes prepared with our method were tested with iodine/iodide electrolyte, Co(II)/(III) bipyridine redox shuttle and Fe(II)/(III) ferrocene-based liquid electrolyte. The Cu2-xS layers showed high efficiency and stability with the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple, showing a fast charge recombination kinetic, low charge transfer resistance (R-ct = 0.73 Omega cm(2)), reasonably high limiting current (11.8 mA cm(-2)) and high stability in propylene carbonate. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)