Dr. Heidi Jiao, Professor, Grand Valley State University, United Sates.

Speech Title: Effects of thermally reduced graphene oxide in the photoanode on the properties of dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO), incorporated in the titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photoanode, on the performance of anthocyanin dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). While anthocyanin based DSSCs are cost effective, their efficiency tends to be low. In this study, rGO-TiO₂ nanocomposites with different rGO weight fractions were synthesized. Their surface morphology was studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Electrical conductivity of these nanocomposite layers were measured with the four-point probe method. The current-voltage characteristics of the DSSCs made with these nanocomposites along with anthocyanin dye from blackberries, a carbon counter electrode, and an Iodine based electrolyte were studied. It was found that the addition of rGO, at low weight fractions, increased nanocomposite conductivity, the solar cell short circuit current, and cell efficiency. Peak efficiency, increased by 45.7% of that with no rGO, was achieved with a photoanode layer containing 0.004 wt% rGO.