Sustainable Design of CoMn2O4/N-Doped Biocarbon Hybrid Electrode from Moringa Seed Husk for Enhanced Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency

IF 2.5 4区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

Journal of Electronic Materials Pub Date : 2026-02-13 DOI:10.1007/s11664-026-12704-5

M. Muthupriya, N. Shobanadevi, Mahaboob Beevi Mohamed Yusuf, R. Ramya

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Abstract

The high cost and scarcity of platinum (Pt), the conventional counter electrode material in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), have driven the search for sustainable, low-cost alternatives without compromising efficiency and stability. This study presents the development of an innovative hybrid carbon electrode consisting of spinel CoMn₂O₄ nanoparticles affixed to nitrogen-doped biocarbon (CMO/N-BC) obtained from Moringa oleifera seed husk. The inherent nitrogen concentration in the biomass facilitated in situ doping during pyrolysis, resulting in a porous, defect-laden carbon framework that promotes improved charge transfer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study validated the spinel phase of CoMn₂O₄ and the amorphous characteristics of N-BC. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy revealed distinctive metal–oxygen oscillations and graphitic characteristics, respectively. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis demonstrated uniform distribution and strong interfacial interaction between CoMn₂O₄ and N-BC. Textural analysis showed a significant increase in specific surface area (CMO/N-BC: 146.2 m² g⁻¹) and mesoporosity, facilitating electrolyte diffusion. The electrochemical analysis showed that CMO/N-BC demonstrated remarkable electrocatalytic activity, with low charge transfer resistance (12.7 Ω cm²), high peak current density in cyclic voltammetry, and a small Tafel slope, indicating that the redox kinetics were improved. The CMO/N-BC-based DSSC possessed outstanding power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.45%, which was much higher than the performance of pure CMO (4.91 %) and close to that of Pt (8.89%). The device was also very stable and consistent over an extended period of use. This study shows an effective and sustainable means for fabricating high-performance DSSCs from Pt-free counter electrodes derived from biowaste materials.

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辣木籽壳CoMn2O4/ n掺杂生物碳杂化电极的可持续设计，提高染料敏化太阳能电池效率

作为染料敏化太阳能电池（DSSCs）的传统对电极材料，铂（Pt）的高成本和稀缺性促使人们寻找可持续的、低成本的替代品，同时又不影响效率和稳定性。本研究提出了一种新型的杂化碳电极，该电极由尖晶石CoMn2O4纳米颗粒附着在辣木种子壳中获得的氮掺杂生物碳（CMO/N-BC）上。生物质中固有的氮浓度有利于热解过程中的原位掺杂，从而形成多孔的、充满缺陷的碳框架，从而促进电荷转移。x射线衍射（XRD）研究证实了CoMn2O4的尖晶石相和N-BC的非晶态特征。傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和拉曼光谱分别显示出明显的金属-氧振荡和石墨特征。场发射扫描电镜（FESEM）和透射电镜（TEM）分析表明，CoMn2O4与N-BC之间分布均匀，界面相互作用强。结构分析表明，其比表面积（CMO/N-BC: 146.2 m2 g−1）和介孔率显著增加，有利于电解质的扩散。电化学分析表明，CMO/N-BC具有显著的电催化活性，电荷转移电阻低（12.7 Ω cm2），循环伏安法峰值电流密度高，Tafel斜率小，表明氧化还原动力学得到改善。CMO/ n - bc基DSSC的功率转换效率（PCE）为7.45%，远高于纯CMO的4.91%，接近Pt的8.89%。该设备在长时间的使用中也非常稳定和一致。本研究展示了一种有效和可持续的方法，可以利用来自生物废弃物的无铂反电极制造高性能的DSSCs。

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来源期刊

Journal of Electronic Materials 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

4.80%

发文量

693

审稿时长

3.8 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Electronic Materials (JEM) reports monthly on the science and technology of electronic materials, while examining new applications for semiconductors, magnetic alloys, dielectrics, nanoscale materials, and photonic materials. The journal welcomes articles on methods for preparing and evaluating the chemical, physical, electronic, and optical properties of these materials. Specific areas of interest are materials for state-of-the-art transistors, nanotechnology, electronic packaging, detectors, emitters, metallization, superconductivity, and energy applications. Review papers on current topics enable individuals in the field of electronics to keep abreast of activities in areas peripheral to their own. JEM also selects papers from conferences such as the Electronic Materials Conference, the U.S. Workshop on the Physics and Chemistry of II-VI Materials, and the International Conference on Thermoelectrics. It benefits both specialists and non-specialists in the electronic materials field. A journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.