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Journal of Nanoparticle Research

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01-11-2014 | Research Paper

Preparation and characterization of ZnO/graphene nanocomposite for improved photovoltaic performance

Authors: P. Jayabal, S. Gayathri, V. Sasirekha, J. Mayandi, V. Ramakrishnan

Published in: Journal of Nanoparticle Research | Issue 11/2014

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Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and ZnO/graphene (ZG) nanocomposite were synthesized via simple chemical route and its application as a photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was demonstrated. The prepared ZnO and ZG were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman techniques. The scanning electron micrograph of ZG revealed the spherical-shaped ZnO nanoparticles of particle size ~160 nm was anchored on the two-dimensional graphene sheets. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy showed that the ZG nanocomposite has enriched visible light absorption. The DSSCs were fabricated using the synthesized ZnO and ZG nanocomposite as photoanode and the effect of low-cost organic dyes on the photovoltaic performances of the solar cells were investigated. Comprehensive performances of ZG are better than that of ZnO-based DSSCs. The ZG DSSCs show power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.5 and 0.98 % for RB and EY sensitized electrodes, respectively. Moreover, the ZG dominates in many aspects due to the presence of graphene.

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Title: Preparation and characterization of ZnO/graphene nanocomposite for improved photovoltaic performance
Authors: P. Jayabal
S. Gayathri
V. Sasirekha
J. Mayandi
V. Ramakrishnan
Publication date: 01-11-2014
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Journal of Nanoparticle Research / Issue 11/2014
Print ISSN: 1388-0764
Electronic ISSN: 1572-896X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2640-7

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