NiCo2S4 nanosheet thin film counter electrodes prepared by a two-step approach for dye-sensitized solar cells

NiCo2S4 nanosheet thin films were prepared on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass by a two-step approach. First, NiCo2O4 nanosheets were synthesized by rapid microwave-assisted solution method, and then they were converted to NiCo2S4 nanosheets by solution-based vulcanization reaction. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with the NiCo2S4 as the counter electrode (CE) could reach a power conversion efficiency of 5.81%, exceeding a typical efficiency of 5.02% in DSSCs based on the sputtered Pt counter electrode. The synthesis simplicity, time efficiency, low cost, and excellent electrocatalytic characteristic make the NiCo2S4 nanosheet thin film promising as CE material for DSSC applications.