Evaluation of solution processable polymer reduced graphene oxide transparent films as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

This paper reports the synthesis of reduced oxide (RGO) coated polyaniline (PANi) nanocomposites via in-situ emulsion polymerization and its application as counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The synthesized nanocomposites were systematically characterized through Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform resonance infra-red (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy indicating the uniform intercalation of polyaniline with reduced graphene oxide. The synergy between RGO and PANi chains owing to the co-doped SDS and H2SO4 leads to the enhanced solubility and improved electrocatalytic activity, that was further confirmed through electrochemical measurements to satisfy the criteria for application as cost effective counter electrode material for scalable DSSC. The fabricated CE was highly transparent and reached the conversion efficiency which is comparable to that of Platinum with a current density of (12.58 mA.cm(-2)) and (13.11 mA.cm(-2)) respectively under an illumination of AM 1.5 G (100 mW.cm(-2)) simulated solar light with an overall photo conversion efficiency of 3.9%. Thus PANi/RGO based nanocomposites could therefore serve as efficient alternative material to Pt. free CE in DSSC. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.