Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Using rGO@TiO₂ Nanotube Hybrids

Abstract

We established a novel strategy for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide(rGO)@TiO₂ nanotube hybrids using an 18 W UV-assisted photo-catalytic reduction method for utilization as photo-anode of dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs). The photo-conversion efficiency of DSSCs was significantly enhanced after the addition of rGO, and in addition, the photo-anode showed decreased internal resistance. Analysis of rGO@TiO₂ hybrids by transmissions scanning electron microscopy(TEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), Raman spectra, N₂ adsorption and desorption, atomic force microscopy(AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) demonstrates that the rGO modified TiO₂ nanotubes can increase the short-circuit current and the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The efficiency is improved by almost two folds as much compared to those of the bare TiO₂ nanotubes.

Keywords

TiO₂ nanotube array / Reduced graphene oxide(rGO) / Hybrid / Dye-sensitized solar cell(DSSC)

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