Graphene sheets incorporation in ZnO nanostructure thin film for enhancing the performance of DSSC

Abstract

In the present work, the zinc oxide nanoparticle and its composite have prepared with the graphene as a photoanode electrode as well as synthesizing an excellent thin film from the PEDOT: PSS, which is conductive polymer loading with MWCNT as an auxiliary electrode for the DSSC. The photoanode characterized using ( XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, BET-BJH, and UV-DRS). The FESEM and AFM performed to study morphology and structure of ZnO, ZnO/Graphene, and PEDOT: PSS/MWCNT thin films. The results confirm a successful fabrication of the thin films on the ITO by using the electrophoretic deposition method as well the added of graphene reduced the band gap close to 3.0eV. Moreover, the PEDOT: PSS/MWCNT nanocomposite based an auxiliary electrode offered high electrical conductivity, which enhanced the photovoltaic values of DSSC. The BET-BJH results demonstrated of the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles at the surface area 6.66 m2/g and pore size 1.42 m3/g.