Enhanced electrical conductivity of counter electrode using hybrid of reduced graphene oxide assisted with customised triple-tail surfactant with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) was utilized as a substrate in counter electrode (CE) fabrication using spray coating method. Hybrid of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) assisted by custom-made triple-tail sodium 1,4-bis(neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)-1, 4-dioxobutane-2-silphonate (TC14) and commercially available single-tail sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactants with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were developed as CE in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) application. The rGO was fabricated by using reduction process from GO solution synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation method. During the reduction process, the reducing agent of hydrazine hydrate was utilized to reduce the oxygen functional group in synthesized GO solution. Hybrid of TC14-rGO and MWCNTs presented better structural and electrical properties than pure TC14-rGO. Higher electrical properties of TC14-rGO/MWCNTs hybrid was believed makes faster electron transport for the dye regeneration in DSCCs measurement. Therefore, the TC14-rGO/MWCNTs hybrid CE thin film showed suitable to be applied and developed in DSSCs application.