Synthesis and electrochemical properties of NiAl LDH@RGO hierarchical nanocomposite as a potential counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Diamond and related materials 2023-04, Vol.134, Article 109738
• Main Authors: Abdelrahman, Asmaa A., Bendary, Samar H., Mahmoud, Sawsan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dye sensitized solar cells; Graphene; LDH; Specific capacitance
• ISSN: 0925-9635; 1879-0062
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2023.109738

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) and graphene oxide (GO) are promising materials for a variety of applications due to their flexible properties, large number of structures, and preparation variables available for fine-tuning. Several techniques are reported for the synthesis of G/LDHs composites. In our work, NiAl-LDH@RGO was synthesized in one pot process and used as counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) due to its good reduction rate compared to graphene oxide (GO). The, reduced graphene, RGO: Ni: Al weight ratio of 0.6:0.37:0.58 was synthesized via the hydrothermal method. GO was synthesized using the hummer process, and to enhance the performance of the electron transport layer, salt of metals was added to prepare NiAl-LDH@RGO. The physicochemical properties of the prepared materials were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, a high-resolution electron microscope (HRTEM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), surface area, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and UV–Visible absorption spectra (UV–Vis). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis showed that the specific capacitance was 470 and 240 F g−1 for NiAl LDH@RGO and GO, respectively. According to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), NiAl LDH@RGO has a lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) and charge carrier lifetime (τ) than GO. Rose Bengal dye (RB) was applied as a photosensitive agent with LiI-I2 as an electrolyte. The conversion efficiency (η) for the TNWs/Ni-Al LDH@RGO system was recorded at 6.2 %, compared with η at 4.9 % for TNW/GO. [Display omitted] •Successful one pot synthesis of NiAl LDH@RGO hierarchical Nanocomposite•The conversion efficiency for the TNWs/NiAl-LDH@RGO system was recorded at 6.2 %, compared with η at 4.9 % for TNWs/GO.•The specific capacitance of NiAlLDH@RGO = 470 and RGO = 240 F g−1