Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by using Graphene-TiO2 Composites as Photoelectrochemical Working Electrode

Abstract

Composite films of graphene-content TiO2 were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates by spin coating at room temperature and applied as working electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM) measurements show that a uniform graphene is formed around the TiO2 particles and mapping of the porous TiO2 layer that the graphene distribution is uniform throughout the layer. The amount of dye absorption is increased with increase in the content of graphene and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement show a gradual increase in the anodic current. With an optimum content of graphene (1wt %) involve in TiO2 film, a 15% improvement in the cell efficiency (from 5.98% to 6.86%) is achieved.