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

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%).