Influence of Graphene (0.01 wt. %) on Structural, Morphological and Photovoltaic Properties of TiO₂-Based DSSC Using Electrolyte Gel

Abstract:

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) doped with reduced graphene oxide, rGO also known as graphene were fabricated at concentrations of 0.01 wt.% . The performance of TiO₂/graphene based DSSC and TiO₂ based DSSC were studied using electrolytes; PAN-based gel electrolyte. The thin films were characterized using several characterizations such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and current-voltage (I-V) measurement. The micrograph images obtained by SEM demonstrated that the thin films are highly porous. The XRD characterization showed that the crystalline particle of thin films is an anatase state and high percentage of carbon composition can be determined using EDX analysis. Through I-V characteristic, the current density J_sc, open circuit-voltage V_oc, fill-factor FF, and efficiency η of the TiO₂-based DSSC were 0.196 mA/cm2, 0.44 V, 0.496 and 0.043% respectively. I-V characteristic showed an increase in values for rGO/TiO₂ based DSSC such as J_sc = 1.177 mA/cm2, V_oc = 0.66 V, FF = 0.656 and η = 0.509%. The addition of rGO concentration has improved the efficiency of DSSC while the use of electrolyte gel can sustain the stability of the cell.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 846)
• Pages: 298-307
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.846.298
• Online since: March 2016
• Authors: Huda Abdullah, Savisha Mahalingam, Azimah Omar, Mohd Zikri Razali, Aisyah Bolhan, Sahbudin Shaari
• Keywords: DSSC Efficiencies, Gel Electrolyte, rGO, TiO₂

References

[1] D. Wang, X. Li, J. Chen, X. Tao, Morphological and electron transport studies in ZnO dye-sensotozed solar cells incorporating multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes, Chemical. Engineering. Journal. 198-199 (2012), p.547.

[2] A. Jena, S. P. Mohanty, P. Kumar, J. Naduvath, V. Gondane, P. Lekha, J. Das, H. K. Narula, S. Mallick, P. Bhargava, Dye sensitized solar cells: A review, Trans. Ind. Ceram. Soc Vol. 71(2012), p.1.

DOI: 10.1080/0371750x.2012.689503

[3] B. Y. S. Chang, N. M Huang, M. N. An'amt, A. R. Marlinda, Y. Norazriena, M. R. Muhamad, I. Harrison, H. N. Lim, C. H. Chia, Facile hydrothermal preparation of titanium dioxide decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite, International Journal of Nanomedicine. 7 (2012).

DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s28189

[4] A.T. Raghavender, A.P. Samantilleke, Pedro Sa, B.G. Almeida, M.I. Vasilevskiy, Nguyen Hoa Hong, Simple way to make Anatase TiO films on FTO glass for promising solar cells, Materials Letters. 69 (2012) 59–62.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2011.11.067

[5] J. Gong, J. Liang, K. Sumathy, Review on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): Fundamental concepts and novel materials, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16 (2012) 5848–5860.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.04.044

[6] H. M. Upadhyaya, S. Senthilarasu, M. Hsu, D. Kishore Kumar. Recent progress and the status of dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) technology with state-of-the-art conversion efficiencies, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells. 119 (2013) 291–295.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.08.031

[7] M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, L. R. A. K Bandara, R. S. P. Bokalawala, P. A. R. D Jayathilaka, O. A. Ileperuma, S. Somasundara, A novel gel polymer electrolyte based on polyacrylonitrile PAN and its application in a solar cell, Materials Research Bulletin. 37 (2002).

DOI: 10.1016/s0025-5408(02)00712-2

[8] X.J. Liu, L.K. Pan, Q.F. Zhao, T. Lv, G. Zhu, T.Q. Chen, T. Lu, Z. Sun, C.Q. Sun, UVassisted photocatalytic synthesis of ZnO-reduced graphene oxide composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity in reduction of Cr(VI), Chem. Eng. J. 183(2012).

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2011.12.068

[9] H. Zhang, X.J. Lv, Y.M. Li, Y. Wang, J.H. Li, P25-graphene composite as a high performance photocatalyst, ACS Nano 4 (2010) 380–386.

DOI: 10.1021/nn901221k

[10] Q. Li, B.D. Guo, J.G. Yu, J.R. Ran, B.H. Zhang, H.J. Yan, J.R. Gong Highly efficient visible-light driven photocatalytic hydrogen production of CdS-cluster decorated graphene nanosheets J. Am. Chem. Soc. Vol. 133 (2011), p.10878.

DOI: 10.1021/ja2025454

[11] A-Young Kim, Jieun Kim, Min Young Kim, Seung Won Ha, Ngyen Thi Thuy Tien, Misook Kang, Photovoltaic Efficiencies on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Assembled with Graphene-Linked TiO Anode Films, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 33 (2012) 3355-3360.

DOI: 10.5012/bkcs.2012.33.10.3355

[12] A. Omar, H. Abdullah, M. A. Yarmo, S. Shaari, M. R. Taha. Morphological and electron transport studies in ZnO dye-sensotozed solar cells incorporating multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 46 (2013).

DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/46/16/165503

[13] A. B. F. Martinson, M. S. Goes, F. Fabregat-Santiago, J. Bisquert, M. J. Pellin, J. T. Hupp, Electron Transport in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on ZnO Nanotubes: Evidence for Highly Efficient Charge Collection and Exceptionally Rapid Dynamics, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 113 (2009).

DOI: 10.1021/jp810406q

[14] J. Bisquert, Theory of the Impedance of Electron Diffusion and Recombination in a Thin Layer, J Phys Chem B. 106 2002 325-333.

DOI: 10.1021/jp011941g

[15] M. Adachi, M. Sakamoto, J. Jiu, Y. Ogata, S. Isoda. Determination of parameters of electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, J Phys Chem B. 110(28) 2006 13872-13880.

DOI: 10.1021/jp061693u

[16] J. Deng, Y. Zheng, Q. Hou, J. Chen, W. Zhou, X. Tao, Solid-state dye-sensitized hierarchically structured ZnO solar cells, Electrochimica Acta. 56 2011 4176-4180.

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2011.01.099

[17] C. H. Hsu, J. R. Wu, L. C. Chen, P. S. Chan, C. C. Chen, Enhanced Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Nanostructure Graphene Electron Transport Layer. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2014 107352 (4 pages).

DOI: 10.1155/2014/107352