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Enhance of TiO2 dopants incorporated reduced graphene oxide via RF magnetron sputtering for efficient dye-sensitised solar cells

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Abstract

In particular, the dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) have a high potential in the rational energy conversion efficiency to secure our sustainable energy source. In the present study, advanced radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique was applied to incorporate titanium dioxide (TiO2) dopants into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheet for improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs device. An optimum TiO2 content incorporated onto rGO nanosheet plays an important role in improving the PCE of DSSCs by minimising the recombination losses of photo-induced charge carriers. Based on the results obtained, 40-s sputtering duration for incorporating TiO2 dopants onto rGO nanosheet exhibits a maximum PCE of 8.78% than that of pure rGO film (0.68%). In fact, the presence of optimum content of TiO2 dopants within rGO nanosheet could act as mediators for efficient separation photo-induced charge carriers. However, the excessive of sputtering duration (e.g. 60 s) of TiO2 dopants onto rGO nanosheet results higher charge recombination and lowers the PCE of DSSCs (5.39%).

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the University Malaya Prototype Grant (No. RU005G-2016), the Transdisciplinary Research Grant Scheme, TRGS (No. TR002A-2014B), the University Malaya Research Grant (No. RP045B-17AET) and the Global Collaborative Programme-SATU Joint Research Scheme from the University of Malaya (No. ST007-2017).

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  1. Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Centre, Institute Postgraduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Foo Wah Low, Chin Wei Lai, Kian Mun Lee & Joon Ching Juan

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  1. Foo Wah Low
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  2. Chin Wei Lai
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  3. Kian Mun Lee
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  4. Joon Ching Juan
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Correspondence to Chin Wei Lai.

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Low, F.W., Lai, C.W., Lee, K.M. et al. Enhance of TiO2 dopants incorporated reduced graphene oxide via RF magnetron sputtering for efficient dye-sensitised solar cells. Rare Met. 37, 919–928 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-018-1064-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-018-1064-4

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