Synergetic effect of graphene sheet and three-dimensional crumpled graphene on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 574 - 579
• Main Authors: Roh, Ki-Min, Kim, Sun Kyung, Choi, Ji-Hyuk, Jo, Eun-Hee, Chang, Hankwon, Jang, Hee Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2016; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Charge; Charge transport; crumpled graphene; dye-sensitized solar cell; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electron microscopy; Emission analysis; Energy conversion efficiency; Fluorine; Glass; Graphene; graphene sheet; Impedance; Kinetics; modification; photoanode; Photovoltaic cells; Recombination; Scanning electron microscopy; Sheets; Simulation; Solar cells; Solar simulators; Spectroscopic analysis; Spectroscopy; Three dimensional; Tin; Tin oxide; Titanium dioxide; Titanium nitride; Titanium oxides
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.15089

Herein, an improved structure of the dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is demonstrated which is composed of surface modified fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass with graphene (GR) sheets and TiO2 films incorporated with three‐dimensional crumped graphene (3‐D CGR)/GR sheets. The morphologies of the as‐prepared GR sheets on FTO glasses and 3‐D CGR/GR sheets/TiO2 films were observed by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. Light harvesting and charge recombination kinetics were investigated with a solar simulator and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. In addition to the reduced charge resistance by the GR modified FTO, the enhanced dye loading capability of the 3‐D CGR, and the rapid charge transport by the 2‐D GR sheets, the power conversion efficiency was 7.2%, which was an increase of 56% compared to a “conventional” structured DSSC. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 574–579, 2016