Abstract
Background: In this comprehensive study, the influence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) dopants decorated on Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) via spin coating technique as an efficient photoelectrode in DSSCs was investigated in detail.
Objective: This study aims to determine the optimum spinning duration for decorating TiO2 onto rGO nanosheet photoanode for high DSSCs performance. Methods: The rGO nanosheet was prepared using the electrodeposition method. A dropped of 0.2 wt% of TiO2 solution was absorbed using micro-pipette (0.1 μl) and continuously applied on FTOrGO surface with the rate of 0.1 μl/5s. The spinning duration was varied from 10 to 50 s, and resultant samples were labelled as Lt, where t= 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50s, respectively. Results: The experimental results showed that TiO2 decorated rGO nanosheet photoanode for 30s spinning duration exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency of 9.98% than that of pure rGO nanosheet photoanode (4.74%) under 150 W of xenon irradiation, which is about 2.1 times improvement in DSSCs performance. Conclusion: Ti4+ ion was decorated onto rGO nanosheet leading to the highest interactions with the O-H functional group or Ti4+ could react with the epoxide or phenolic groups in rGO forming the Ti- O-C bonds.Keywords: rGO/TiO2 nanocomposite, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), electron mobility, electrodeposition, TiO2 solution, Conduction Band (CB).
Graphical Abstract
[1]
O’regan, B.; Grätzel, M. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature, 1991, 353, 737-740.
[2]
Hagfeldt, A.; Graetzel, M. Light-induced redox reactions in nanocrystalline systems. Chem. Rev., 1995, 95, 49-68.
[4]
Liu, Q. Enhanced conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cells by Ca-doping. J. Alloys Compd., 2013, 548, 161-165.
[5]
Das, T.K.; Ilaiyaraja, P.; Sudakar, C. Template assisted nanoporous TiO2 nanoparticles: The effect of oxygen vacancy defects on photovoltaic performance of DSSC and QDSSC. Sol. Energy, 2018, 159, 920-929.
[6]
Marimuthu, T.; Anandhan, N.; Thangamuthu, R. Electrochemical synthesis of one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures on ZnO seed layer for DSSC applications. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2018, 428, 385-394.
[7]
Zhu, H-C.; Zhang, J.; Wang, Y-L. Adsorption orientation effects of porphyrin dyes on the performance of DSSC: Comparison of benzoic acid and tropolone anchoring groups binding onto the TiO2 anatase (101) surface. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2018, 433, 1137-1147.
[8]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W. Recent developments of graphene-TiO2 composite nanomaterials as efficient photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells: A review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2018, 82, 103-125.
[9]
Li, Y. Pure anatase TiO2 “nanoglue”: An inorganic binding agent to improve nanoparticle interconnections in the low-temperature sintering of dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett., 2011, 98103301
[11]
Novoselov, K.S. Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films. Science, 2004, 306, 666-669.
[14]
Fang, X. Improved properties of dye-sensitized solar cells by incorporation of graphene into the photoelectrodes. Electrochim. Acta, 2012, 65, 174-178.
[15]
Shu, W. Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of reduced graphene oxide–TiO2 nanoparticles composites by solvothermal method. J. Alloys Compd., 2013, 563, 229-233.
[16]
Li, J. Ultra-light, compressible and fire-resistant graphene aerogel as a highly efficient and recyclable absorbent for organic liquids. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 2934-2941.
[17]
Li, D. Thermal performance of a PCM-filled double glazing unit with different optical properties of phase change material. Energy Build., 2016, 119, 143-152.
[18]
Jeng, M-J. Particle size effects of TiO2 layers on the solar efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Int. J. Photoenergy, 2013, 2013 Article ID 563897
[19]
Zhang, H. Effects of TiO2 film thickness on photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cell and its enhanced performance by graphene combination. Mater. Res. Bull., 2014, 49, 126-131.
[20]
Lee, W.J. Performance variation of carbon counter electrode based dye-sensitized solar cell. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 2008, 92, 814-818.
[21]
Mathew, S. Dye-sensitized solar cells with 13% efficiency achieved through the molecular engineering of porphyrin sensitizers. Nat. Chem., 2014, 6, 242-247.
[22]
Yu, Z. Synergistic effect of N-methylbenzimidazole and guanidinium thiocyanate on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on ionic liquid electrolytes. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2010, 114, 22330-22337.
[23]
Padinger, F. Fabrication of large area photovoltaic devices containing various blends of polymer and fullerene derivatives by using the doctor blade technique. Opto-Electron. Rev., 2000, 4, 280-283.
[24]
Lee, Y.; Chae, J.; Kang, M. Comparison of the photovoltaic efficiency on DSSC for nanometer sized TiO2 using a conventional sol–gel and solvothermal methods. J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 2010, 16, 609-614.
[25]
Chou, C-S. Preparation of TiO2/NiO composite particles and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv. Powder Technol., 2011, 22, 31-42.
[26]
Ramasamy, E. Portable, parallel grid dye-sensitized solar cell module prepared by screen printing. J. Power Sources, 2007, 165, 446-449.
[27]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. Study of reduced graphene oxide film incorporated of TiO2 species for efficient visible light driven dye-sensitized solar cell. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron., 2017, 28, 3819-3836.
[28]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. Facile synthesis of high quality graphene oxide from graphite flakes using improved Hummer’s technique. J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., 2015, 15, 6769-6773.
[29]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W.; Lee, K.M.; Juan, J.C. Enhance of TiO2 dopants incorporated reduced graphene oxide via RF magnetron sputtering for efficient dye-sensitised solar cells. Rare Met., 2018, 37, 919-928.
[30]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. One-step hydrothermal synthesis of titanium dioxide decorated on reduced graphene oxide for dye-sensitised solar cells application. Int. J. Nanotechnol., 2018, 15, 78-92.
[31]
Chong, S.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. Green preparation of reduced graphene oxide using a natural reducing agent. Ceram. Int., 2015, 41, 9505-9513.
[32]
Low, F.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. Surface modification of reduced graphene oxide film by Ti ion implantation technique for high dye-sensitized solar cells performance. Ceram. Int., 2017, 43, 625-633.
[33]
Liu, X. Microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS–reduced graphene oxide composites for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Chem. Can., 2011, 47, 11984-11986.
[34]
Lee, J.S.; You, K.H.; Park, C.B. Highly photoactive, low bandgap TiO2 nanoparticles wrapped by graphene. Adv. Mater., 2012, 24, 1084-1088.
[35]
Chong, S.W.; Lai, C.W.; Hamid, S.B.A. Controllable electrochemical synthesis of reduced graphene oxide thin-film constructed as efficient photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells. Materials (Basel), 2016, 9E69
[36]
Hussein, A.K.; Walunj, A.; Kolsi, L. Applications of nanotechnology to enhance the performance of the direct absorption solar collectors. J. Therm. Eng., 2016, 2, 529-540.
[37]
Van de Lagemaat, J.; Park, N-G.; Frank, A. Influence of electrical potential distribution, charge transport, and recombination on the photopotential and photocurrent conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells: A study by electrical impedance and optical modulation techniques. J. Phys. Chem. B, 2000, 104, 2044-2052.
Related Books
The Art of Nanomaterials
Advanced Materials and Nano Systems: Theory and Experiment - Part 2
Advanced Materials and Nano Systems: Theory and Experiment (Part-1)
Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities and Villages: Advanced Technologies, Development, and Challenges
SILVER NANOPARTICLES: Synthesis, Functionalization and Applications
Article Metrics
36
4