Issue 1, 2018

Enhanced performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells by the introduction of graphene oxide into the TiO2 photoanode

Abstract

In order to enhance the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), graphene oxide (GO) was introduced into the TiO2 photoanode to construct a GO-TiO2 composited photoanode. The photoelectric properties of the as-constructed photoanode were studied in comparison with those of the TiO2 photoanode and the effect of GO obtained by different methods on the performance of the GO-TiO2 composited photoanode was also compared. After constructed with GO, the photoanode displayed enhanced light and dye adsorption properties with a higher light harvesting efficiency, lower internal resistances, a faster electron transport, and a lower charge recombination rate, which resulted in a higher current density. At the optimal condition, the DSSCs based on the photoanode modified by GO obtained in our laboratory (GO1) exhibited a Jsc of 18.16 mA cm−2, a Voc of 0.68 V, and a FF of 0.59 with a energy conversion efficiency (η) of 7.30%, indicating an increased performance compared with that of the DSSCs based only on the pure TiO2 photoanode, which had a Jsc of 14.41 mA cm−2, a Voc of 0.66 V, and a FF of 0.60 with a η value of 5.67%. However, when GO that obtained from a production line in a factory (GO2) was used, the performance of the DSSCs was further improved, which showed a Jsc of 19.49 mA cm−2, a Voc of 0.68 V, and an FF of 0.59 with a η value of 7.83%. Different performances between GOs that obtained from the laboratory and the factory were mainly attributed to their distinct production processes, which distinguished their properties from each other. It is a potential method to enhance the performance of the DSSCs by constructing a GO-TiO2 photoanode with a suitable quality GO.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells by the introduction of graphene oxide into the TiO2 photoanode

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
21 Aug 2017
Accepted
25 Oct 2017
First published
25 Oct 2017

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2018,5, 54-62

Enhanced performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells by the introduction of graphene oxide into the TiO2 photoanode

L. Wei, P. Wang, Y. Yang, Z. Zhan, Y. Dong, W. Song and R. Fan, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2018, 5, 54 DOI: 10.1039/C7QI00503B

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