Incorporation of Ag decorated rGO ON TiO₂/dye photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been fabricated with a photoanode made with silver-decorated reduced graphene oxide over the layer of TiO2 nanoparticle coated over the FTO substrate using the Doctor Blade method. Due to the excellent electrical conductivity of silver decorated reduced graphene oxide and high adsorption of dye molecules, the cell parameters are enhanced. Three different concentrations of Ag decorated rGO (0.1% wt, 0.2% wt, and 0.3% wt) have been considered for this study and are compared with pure TiO2-based DSSC. It is confirmed that the 0.1% wt concentration of TiO2-Ag decorated rGO has shown better performance than the other concentrations as well as the pure TiO2 photoanode. Natural dyes having chlorophyll pigment have been used as sensitizers, and graphene-based counter electrodes are incorporated in all solar cells. DSSC of 0.1% wt concentration of TiO2-Ag decorated rGO has given short circuit current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency of 3.768 mA/cm(2), 0.6518 V, 0.566, and 1.39%, respectively. The higher the concentration of Ag decorated rGO with TiO2, the lower the electron injection into the semiconductor oxide with increased band gap energy.