Fluorine-free synthesis of reduced graphene oxide modified anatase TiO2 nanoflowers photoanode with highly exposed {0 0 1} facets for high performance dye-sensitized solar cell. (15th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pugazhenthiran, N.; Mangalaraja, R.V.; Vijaya, S.; Suresh, S.; Kandasamy, M.; Sathishkumar, P.; Valdés, H.; Gracia-Pinilla, M.A.; Murugesan, S.; Anandan, S.
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 211(2020)
• Page Start: 1017
• Page End: 1026
• Publication Date: 2020-11-15
• Subjects: TiO2 nanoflowers -- {0 0 1} facets -- Reduced graphene oxide -- Dye-sensitized solar cell -- Photovoltaic performance; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.10.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Anatase TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs were prepared by fluorine-free solvothermal method. TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs were wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (RGO) charge transporter. RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs were characterized by XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM and TEM. RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs photoanode in DSSC exhibited improved efficiency of 6.78%. RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs offered enhanced electron transport and reduced recombination. Abstract: A facile, fluorine-free and non-toxic one-pot solvothermal technique was adopted to synthesis TiO2 nanoflowers with anatase phase having 98% highly exposed {0 0 1} facets (TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs). The morphology, grain size and crystallinity of pure TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets modified TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs (RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs) were inspected by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM images showed the development of anatase TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs with high crystallinity and uniform shape. The influence of RGO on the performance of the TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs as a photoanode material in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was examined. High energy conversion efficiency (ɳ) was observed for the DSSC based on a photoanode made of RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs when compared to DSSCs based on photoanodes fabricated using pure TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs and commercial Degussa P25 TiO2, which exhibited η of 6.78, 4.59 and 2.71%, respectively. The improved performance of the DSSC based on a photoanode composed of RGO-TiO2 {0 0 1} NFs was due to its good crystallinity, high dye intake and enhanced light-harvesting properties. Moreover, the presence of RGO greatly hindered the recombination of photogenerated electrons and increased their lifespan. This work discloses a novel efficient photoanode design for improving performance of the DSSCs.