A simple and one step low cost microwave induced low cost grapheme modified CeO2 photo electrodes for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

摘要

The photovoltaic properties of CeO2 nanoparticles were improved when composited with graphene making this material as a potential candidate for high performance dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) device applications. Pure CeO2 with various composite of CeO2 and graphene photoanodes were successfully fabricated via microwave irradiation method. The fabricated photoanodes were characterized with various techniques XRD, SEM, Raman, XPS, UV-DRS, PL and BET analysis. Cubic structure with uniform with individual spherical shaped particles (30-35 nm) was consistently wrapped on the graphene nanosheets. Mesoporous nature with high surface area (83.5 m(2)/g) and pore size (29.3 nm) was gotten by the optimized (3:1) CeO2 incorporated graphene composite photoanode. A considerable red shift in optical band gap energy and the significant reduce in the recombination of electron-hole pair process was identified through UV and PL analysis. FTO substrate has been used to making the photoanode (CeO2/graphene) and counter electrode (platinum), which are finally constructed by sandwich type dye sensitized solar cell device. The J-V plot reveals that CeO2/graphene hybrid photoanode deliver a high power conversion efficiency of 7.95%, which is comparatively higher than bare CeO2 photoanode (4.48%). The improved PCE by graphene doping is also discussed in detail.