Improving the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell by graphene/titania photoanode

• A colloid of graphene/titania is prepared, and thus a graphene/titania film is made.
• The film shows high porosity, large surface area and small transfer resistance.
• The cell with graphene/titania photoanode obtains a conversion efficiency of 7.52%.
• Which is increased by 18% compared to the cell with pristine titania electrode.

A mixed colloid of graphene and titania is synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal reaction, thus a graphene/titania film photoanode is prepared. The graphene/titania film shows high porosity and large specific surface area, which favors a full adsorption of sensitized dye. On the other hand, the graphene/titania electrode has smaller charge transfer resistance than the pristine titania electrode, which replies that the graphene/titania electrode accelerates electronic transportation and suppresses the charge recombination. Under an optimal condition, the dye-sensitized solar cell based on graphene/titania photoanode achieve a power conversion efficiency of 7.52%, which is increased by 17.7% compared to the cell based on the pristine titania electrode under a simulated solar light irradiation of 100 mW·cm−2.

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