The production of polyaniline/graphene hybrids for use as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells

Polyaniline/graphene hybrids were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline monomer in a graphene dispersion. The resulting hybrid material was characterized systematically by a variety of means such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed a uniform dispersion of polyaniline nanoparticles on the graphene surface. Highly dispersed polyaniline nanoparticles compactly covering on the graphene surface could increase both the electroactive region of polyaniline and the conductivity of the hybrid material, and thus improve its electrocatalytic activity as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. The conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell with this counter electrode reached 6.09% under an illumination of AM 1.5 simulated solar light (100 mW cm−2), comparable to that of a cell with a Pt counter electrode.

► The hybrid with uniform PANI nanoparticles coating on graphene surface is produced.
► PANI/graphene electrode shows an enhancement of electrocatalytic activity.
► DSC with PANI/graphene electrode achieves a conversion efficiency of 6.09%.