Abstract
Reduced graphene oxide has certain unique qualities that make them versatile for a myriad of applications. Unlike graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide is a conductive material and well suited for use in electrically conductive materials, such as solar cell devices. In this study, we report on the synthesis of graphene oxide as well as the fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized solar cells with a photoanode which is an amalgam of reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide. The synthesized reduced graphene oxide and the corresponding photoanode were fully characterized using Ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman Spectrometry. The morphology of the sample was assessed using Atomic Force Microscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The photovoltaic characteristics were determined by photocurrent and photo-voltage measurements of the fabricated solar cells. The electrical impedances of both sets of devices were also evaluated. Overall, the solar to electric power efficiency of the device with reduced graphene oxide was observed to be higher (2.02%) than the device without the reduced graphene oxide (1.61%).
Highlights
The ever-increasing demand for energy has spurred the exploration of different sources of energy over the last few decades
Most studies on Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are focused on improving the efficiency of the solar cells through the optimization of the various components of the solar cell [2–6]
The synthesis of reduced graphene oxide and its characterization together with the performance of the solar cells fabricated with the reduced graphene are reported
Summary
The ever-increasing demand for energy has spurred the exploration of different sources of energy over the last few decades. Growing concern about global warming and climate change, has led to an increased focus on renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. Solar cells absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity. Reduced graphene oxide possess electrical and mechanical properties similar to that of graphene and, makes them versatile for a number of applications including dye-sensitized solar cells [29–33]. Most of the studies on the use of graphene material in dye-sensitized solar cells involve the fusion of titanium dioxide with the graphene material to form the photoanode [34–36]. Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using reduced graphene oxide as part of the photoanode. The synthesis of reduced graphene oxide and its characterization together with the performance of the solar cells fabricated with the reduced graphene are reported . A commonly used dye sensitizer, N719, was deployed in the fabrication of all the dye-sensitized solar cells
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