Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion
Abstract This study investigates the electrocatalytic performance of binary MnO/NiS and ternary MWCNT@MnO/NiS composites as platinum (Pt) free counter electrodes (CEs) for triiodide reduction in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The MnO and NiS components form mixed phase structures, MnO/Mn₃O₄ and...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14954-5 |
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| author | Diana Suleimenova Yerbolat Tashenov Ayagoz Ibrayeva Robert J. O’Reilly Bakhytzhan Baptayev Mannix P. Balanay |
| author_facet | Diana Suleimenova Yerbolat Tashenov Ayagoz Ibrayeva Robert J. O’Reilly Bakhytzhan Baptayev Mannix P. Balanay |
| author_sort | Diana Suleimenova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigates the electrocatalytic performance of binary MnO/NiS and ternary MWCNT@MnO/NiS composites as platinum (Pt) free counter electrodes (CEs) for triiodide reduction in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The MnO and NiS components form mixed phase structures, MnO/Mn₃O₄ and NiS/Ni₃S₄, respectively, while multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) function as a conductive scaffold to enhance charge transport. The composites were synthesized via a solvothermal method and thoroughly characterized using a combination of structural and electrochemical techniques. Both MnO/NiS and MWCNT@MnO/NiS electrodes demonstrated significantly lower charge transfer resistance than the conventional Pt CE, indicating superior catalytic activity. When integrated into DSSCs, the MnO/NiS and MWCNT@MnO/NiS electrodes achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 8.66% and 9.29%, respectively, surpassing that of the Pt based device (8.54%) under identical testing conditions. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects between the redox active mixed metal phases and the high conductivity and surface area of MWCNTs. Additionally, the devices exhibited excellent long term operational stability, underscoring the potential of these composite materials as cost effective and durable alternatives to noble metal CEs in next generation solar energy systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-76deb6f3be5340b5bb905b0491e767cb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-76deb6f3be5340b5bb905b0491e767cb2025-08-20T03:42:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-14954-5Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversionDiana Suleimenova0Yerbolat Tashenov1Ayagoz Ibrayeva2Robert J. O’Reilly3Bakhytzhan Baptayev4Mannix P. Balanay5National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev UniversityDepartment of Chemistry,, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National UniversityNational Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev UniversitySchool of Science and Technology, University of New EnglandNational Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev UniversityChemistry Department, Nazarbayev UniversityAbstract This study investigates the electrocatalytic performance of binary MnO/NiS and ternary MWCNT@MnO/NiS composites as platinum (Pt) free counter electrodes (CEs) for triiodide reduction in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The MnO and NiS components form mixed phase structures, MnO/Mn₃O₄ and NiS/Ni₃S₄, respectively, while multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) function as a conductive scaffold to enhance charge transport. The composites were synthesized via a solvothermal method and thoroughly characterized using a combination of structural and electrochemical techniques. Both MnO/NiS and MWCNT@MnO/NiS electrodes demonstrated significantly lower charge transfer resistance than the conventional Pt CE, indicating superior catalytic activity. When integrated into DSSCs, the MnO/NiS and MWCNT@MnO/NiS electrodes achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 8.66% and 9.29%, respectively, surpassing that of the Pt based device (8.54%) under identical testing conditions. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects between the redox active mixed metal phases and the high conductivity and surface area of MWCNTs. Additionally, the devices exhibited excellent long term operational stability, underscoring the potential of these composite materials as cost effective and durable alternatives to noble metal CEs in next generation solar energy systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14954-5Binary compositeTernary compositeMulti-walled carbon nanotubesElectrocatalystDye sensitized solar cell |
| spellingShingle | Diana Suleimenova Yerbolat Tashenov Ayagoz Ibrayeva Robert J. O’Reilly Bakhytzhan Baptayev Mannix P. Balanay Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion Scientific Reports Binary composite Ternary composite Multi-walled carbon nanotubes Electrocatalyst Dye sensitized solar cell |
| title | Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| title_full | Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| title_fullStr | Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| title_short | Tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with MWCNTs as platinum-free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| title_sort | tailored manganese oxide and nickel sulfide composites with mwcnts as platinum free electrodes for solar energy conversion |
| topic | Binary composite Ternary composite Multi-walled carbon nanotubes Electrocatalyst Dye sensitized solar cell |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14954-5 |
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