Graphene loaded TiO2 submicron spheres scattering layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell

Muhammad Umair Shahid; Norani Muti Mohamed; Ali Samer Muhsan; Siti Nur Azella Zaine; Mehboob Khatani; Asfand Yar; Waqar Ahmad; Muhammad Babar Hussain; Asma A Alothman; Mohammed Sheikh Saleh Mushab

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138009

Graphene loaded TiO₂ submicron spheres scattering layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell

Chemosphere. 2023 Apr:321:138009. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138009. Epub 2023 Jan 30.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: muhammad.umair@uskt.edu.pk.
² Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
³ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
⁴ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Chemical Engineering Department, University of Technology PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Malaysia.
⁵ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Electrical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Malaysia.
⁶ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; Department of Physical and Num Sciences, Qurtaba University of Science and Technology, 29111, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
⁷ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan.
⁸ Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, Leuven, 3001, Belgium.
⁹ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 36731659
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138009

Abstract

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) have attracted great attention due to environmentally friendly low-cost processing, excellent working ability in diffuse light, and potential to meet the power demands of future buildings due the true class of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Nevertheless, DSSCs have relatively low photoconversion efficiency (PCE) due to multiple issues. Several strategies have been employed to enhance its PCE. For instance, bi-layered structure of photoelectrode i.e., mesoporous TiO₂ transparent layer with top scattering layer was introduced which scatter light inside on large angles improves the harvesting ability of photoelectrode thus enhanced PCE. However, scattering layer is composed of aggregated small particles which offer sluggish electron transport due to multiple grain boundaries, consequently, unwanted recombination reaction which leads to poor PCE. This issue has been addressed for transparent layer immensely but ignored for scattering layer. Mostly for scattering layer in previous studies novel structures have been proposed to enhance scattering properties and dye adsorption only. Therefore, in this study for the first time presenting dual functional graphene/TiO₂ scattering layer in which solvent exfoliated graphene is incorporated in TiO₂ submicron spheres which enhanced electron transport properties, while submicron spheres scatter light effectively. Scattering and electron transport characteristics of DSSCs are thoroughly investigated with the function of graphene loading. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has revealed that diffusion coefficient length and coefficient and conductivity attained maximum value at 0.01 wt%. while other important parameters such as electron lifetime and electron density in conduction band have been improved till 0.020 wt% graphene loading. However, results indicated that with 0.01 w% graphene 33% higher PCE was achieved than without scattering layer and 13% higher than scattering layer without graphene. The depraving in PCE at >0.01 wt% graphene despite of excellent electron transport improvement is attributed to the loss of diffuse reflectance and higher optical absorption by graphene.

Keywords: Graphene; Solar cell; Spheres scattering layer; TiO(2) submicron.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Coloring Agents
Dielectric Spectroscopy
Graphite*

Substances

titanium dioxide
Graphite
Coloring Agents