Enhancement in the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) by Incorporation of Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) in ZnO Nanostructures

In this work, a fast, environment-friendly and economic route was used to prepare ZnO their nanocomposites containing reduced graphene oxide (RGO) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The prepared nanostructures were well-characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission (TEM), Raman measurements. XRD, TEM results confirmed that crystallized into hexagonal phase, RGO CNTs. Morphological studies performed using FESEM images showed possessed tube-like morphology with length diameter in range ~1 micron 90–200 nm, respectively, which uniform densely covered on surface materials. DSSCs fabricated as working electrode platinum counter ruthenium-based dyes iodide electrolytes. To further improve efficiency cells, CNTs synthesized, compared pristine samples. ZnO/CNTs (0.5 wt%) exhibited highest power conversion (PCE) maximum value 0.612% 0.326% DSSC pure ZnO, 0.574% ZnO/RGO. Significantly, technique could be large-scale production existing economical highly effective technique.