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A facile way to fabricate graphene sheets on TiO2 nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

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Abstract

Large-area graphene sheets on TiO2 nanotube arrays (RGO/TNAs) were fabricated using a simple electrochemical method. The RGO content loaded on the arrays was controlled by changing the electrochemical reaction time. The microstructures and properties of RGO/TNAs were characterized and measured using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR spectra, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The results indicated that an appropriate reaction time clearly enhances photoelectrochemical properties, while excessive RGO loading significantly lowers their performance. Remarkably, in sharp contrast to the dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by TNAs as photoanode, the RGO/TNAs showed a significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency of 4.46 %. The improvement of light harvesting is due to the excellent property of RGO and the special structure of the composite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Yang Wang, Zhen Li, Yunfeng Tian, Wen Zhao, Xueqin Liu & Jianbo Yang

  2. Faculty of Material Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Yang Wang, Zhen Li, Yunfeng Tian, Wen Zhao, Xueqin Liu & Jianbo Yang

Authors
  1. Yang Wang
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  2. Zhen Li
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  3. Yunfeng Tian
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  4. Wen Zhao
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  5. Xueqin Liu
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Correspondence to Zhen Li.

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Wang, Y., Li, Z., Tian, Y. et al. A facile way to fabricate graphene sheets on TiO2 nanotube arrays for dye-sensitized solar cell applications. J Mater Sci 49, 7991–7999 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8506-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8506-7

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