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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Digital Printing of Titanium Dioxide for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: May 4, 2016
Graphene loaded TiO2 submicron spheres scattering layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell
Muhammad Umair Shahid1, Norani Muti Mohamed2, Ali Samer Muhsan3
1Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Pakistan; Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
Researchers developed a novel graphene/TiO2 scattering layer to boost the efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). This dual-function layer enhances electron transport and light scattering, significantly improving photoconversion efficiency (PCE).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) offer eco-friendly, low-cost photovoltaic solutions, suitable for building-integrated applications.
- Current DSSCs suffer from low photoconversion efficiency (PCE) due to issues like sluggish electron transport in scattering layers.
- Existing strategies often overlook optimizing the scattering layer for improved electron transport, focusing primarily on light scattering and dye adsorption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel dual-functional graphene/TiO2 scattering layer for DSSCs.
- To investigate the impact of incorporating solvent-exfoliated graphene into TiO2 submicron spheres on electron transport and light scattering.
- To optimize graphene loading for enhanced DSSC performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of TiO2 submicron spheres incorporating solvent-exfoliated graphene.
- Characterization of scattering and electron transport properties using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS).
- Evaluation of DSSC performance with varying graphene concentrations.
Main Results:
- The graphene/TiO2 scattering layer significantly improved electron transport properties, with optimal performance at 0.01 wt% graphene loading.
- Key parameters like diffusion coefficient, conductivity, electron lifetime, and electron density in the conduction band were enhanced.
- A 33% higher PCE was achieved compared to DSSCs without a scattering layer, and 13% higher than those with a scattering layer lacking graphene.
Conclusions:
- The dual-functional graphene/TiO2 scattering layer effectively enhances both electron transport and light scattering in DSSCs.
- Optimal graphene incorporation at 0.01 wt% leads to substantial improvements in photoconversion efficiency.
- Higher graphene concentrations (>0.01 wt%) reduce PCE due to decreased diffuse reflectance and increased optical absorption by graphene.
