Preparation and characterization of ZnO/graphene nanocomposite for improved photovoltaic performance

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2014-11, Vol.16 (11), p.1-9, Article 2640
• Main Authors: Jayabal, P., Gayathri, S., Sasirekha, V., Mayandi, J., Ramakrishnan, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dyes; Electrodes; Electronics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Graphene; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Molecular electronics, nanoelectronics; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Natural energy; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Specific materials; X-ray diffraction; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2640-7

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and ZnO/graphene (ZG) nanocomposite were synthesized via simple chemical route and its application as a photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was demonstrated. The prepared ZnO and ZG were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman techniques. The scanning electron micrograph of ZG revealed the spherical-shaped ZnO nanoparticles of particle size ~160 nm was anchored on the two-dimensional graphene sheets. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy showed that the ZG nanocomposite has enriched visible light absorption. The DSSCs were fabricated using the synthesized ZnO and ZG nanocomposite as photoanode and the effect of low-cost organic dyes on the photovoltaic performances of the solar cells were investigated. Comprehensive performances of ZG are better than that of ZnO-based DSSCs. The ZG DSSCs show power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.5 and 0.98 % for RB and EY sensitized electrodes, respectively. Moreover, the ZG dominates in many aspects due to the presence of graphene.