High-quality GS/TiO2 composite for the photoanode of the dye-sensitized solar cells

In this paper, TiCl₃ and graphene oxide (GO) were used as precursor to produce high-quality TiO₂/graphene sheets (TiO₂/GS) composite via two-steps hydrothermal reaction method. Using TiO₂/GS composites as photoanode to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC).The performance of the DSSC was improved with adding 0.3 wt% graphene into the TiO₂ photoanode. Compared to without graphene, the short-circuit photocurrent density is increased by 11%, and the power conversion efficiency is increased by 37%. It was indicated that the high conductivity of graphene increases the short-circuit photocurrent density and the dispersing action of graphene in the GS/TiO₂ composites, which prevents aggregation of TiO₂ nanoparticles, increases the power conversion efficiency.