Improved photovoltaic performance of dye sensitized solar cell using ZnO–graphene nano-composites

•ZnO–graphene nanocomposite has been synthesized.•ZnO nanocrystals are formed on the surface of graphene.•ZnO–graphene based dye sensitized solar cell shows enhanced photovoltaic performance.

Here we demonstrate an enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye sensitized solar cell which was fabricated using ZnO–graphene nanocomposite as the counter electrode. The ZnO–graphene composite was prepared by an aqueous chemical route. Both the XRD and Raman studies confirm the formation of ZnO phase in the composite. From the FESEM studies it was found that the ZnO nanoparticles were formed on the surface of the graphene sheets. The comparison of the photovoltaic performance of the pure ZnO and ZnO–graphene cells show that the short circuit current has increased significantly in the latter where as the open circuit voltage is unaltered in both the cases. We have discussed the possible mechanism of the increased short circuit current in ZnO–graphene solar cell.

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