Barium titanate perovskite nanoparticles integrated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite photoanode for high performance dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Nanocomposites comprised of barium titanate perovskite nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (BaTiO3-RGO NC) were formed through facile hydrothermal method. X-ray diffractometer profile confirmed crystallite and tetragonal phase of BaTiO3. Identification of D and G bands in Raman investigation and XPS spectra disclosed existence of graphene in the prepared BaTiO3-RGO NC. FE-SEM examination indicates small sized BaTiO3 NPs are obviously decorated on the graphene sheets by strong binding forces between graphene and BaTiO3 NPs. Among graphene of different wt%, BaTiO3-RGO NC with 1.5 wt% showed lowest PL intensity, indicating effective reduction of photogenerated charge carrier recombination. Dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using BaTiO3-RGO NC photoanode having 1.5 wt% graphene displays high efficiency of 4.93% associated with high photocurrent density.