The role of Mott-Schottky heterojunctions in PtCo-Cu2ZnGeS4 as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 May 28;51(43):8950-3. doi: 10.1039/c5cc02584b.

Abstract

Metastable wurtzstannite Cu2ZnGeS4 (CZGS) nanocrystals were synthesized via a hot-injection method and then used as matrixes to fabricate PtCo-CZGS heterostructured nano-particles. The formed Mott-Schottky heterojunctions in the hybrid nanocrystals promote the transfer of electrons from semiconducting CZGS to metallic PtCo, which accelerates the reduction of I3(-) to I(-) in dye-sensitized solar cells.