Improved Performance of DSSC Photoanodes After the Modification of TiO₂ with Reduced Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Abstract: A hybrid photoanode material consisting of reduced graphene oxide–anatase titanium dioxide (rGO–anatase TiO2) nano-composite particles was produced by mixing an rGO solution into a TiO2 solution. The hybrid particles were then electrophoretically deposited (EPD) onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (F:SnO2) coated (FTO) glass substrate to form the novel photoanode structure for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Incorporation of graphene materials (i.e., the rGO flakes) into the hybrid photoanode increases the dye absorption ability, light harvesting and eventually the photocurrent-density (j). At the optimal proportion of rGO, the solar cell showed a short-circuit current density (jSC) of 18.37 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.61 V, and a fill-factor (FF) of 52.1% with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.52%. The hybrid photoelectrode produced by electrophoretic deposition of the rGO-modified TiO2 solution shows excellent photoelectrochemical properties. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].