Flexible and novel counter electrode from graphene/Zn Al layered double hydroxide nanocomposite in dye sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-10, Vol.922, p.116736, Article 116736
• Main Authors: Bendary, Samar H., Abdelrahman, Asmaa A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Carbon; Circuits; Corrosion resistance; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrode polarization; Electrodes; Electrolytic cells; Electron microscopes; Energy conversion efficiency; Fourier transforms; Graphene; High resolution electron microscopy; Hydroxides; Infrared spectroscopy; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Open circuit voltage; Photovoltaic cells; Raman spectroscopy; Short circuit currents; Spectrum analysis; Substrates; Surface area; Titanium dioxide; Zinc
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2022.116736

Due to their simplicity of manufacture, superior corrosion resistance, and low cost compared to platinum (Pt) electrodes, carbon-based counter electrodes (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), such as graphene composite (G), have attracted unprecedented interest in recent years. However, poor surface adhesion between the carbon counter electrodes (CCE) and the FTO substrate, as well as limited surface area and poor inter-particle connectivity between the carbon materials, have continuously proven to be a significant problem. To avoid these issues, we used a hydrothermal technique to fabricate G/Zn-Al-LDH as CE in DSSCs. The conversion of triiodide to iodide utilizing electrons flowing through an external circuit relies on CE so CE plays a crucial role in DSSCs. Enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and lowering the device's cost are two efficient ways to increase the performance of a CE. The prepared G/Zn-Al-LDH was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), surface area Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Tafel polarization test. G/Zn-Al-LDH was used as novel CE in DSSCs with TiO2 nanoparticles (TNP) as a working electrode, Eosin Y (EY) as photosensitizer, and LiI-I2 as a liquid electrolyte. The photovoltaic parameters were observed to be 0.66 V and 11.23 mA/cm2 for open circuit voltage (VOC) and short circuit current density (JSC), respectively for TNP/EY/LiI-I2/G/ZnAl-LDH system. The assembled cell with TNP/EY/LiI-I2/G/ZnAl-LDH having (PCE) of 4.4 % is comparable to TNP/EY/LiI-I2/GO having 3.7 % which is measured under similar testing conditions.