Graphene oxide sheet-polyaniline nanocomposite prepared through in-situ polymerization/deposition method for counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell

In this study, graphene oxide sheet-polyaniline (GOS-PANI) nanocomposite was prepared through in-situ polymerization/deposition method for using as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass was immersed into the solution of the aniline and graphite oxide (GO) during the polymerization of PANI. The GOS-PANI nanocomposite was in-situ deposited onto the surface of the FTO glass. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the multi-layered graphene oxide sheets (GOS) were exfoliated by the chain segments of PANI. The images of scanning electron and atomic-force microscopes confirmed that the GOS were well distributed in the nanorod-type PANI based thin film. The presence of the synergistic effect of PANI and GO led to the higher electrochemical catalytic activity of GOS-PANI nanocomposite than that of GO or PANI. As a result, better PV performance was observed for DSSCs based on the GOS-PANI electrode as compared to that of the DSSC sample based on the PANI electrode. The highest photo-energy conversion efficiency (6.55 %) was obtained for the GOS-PANI electrode based DSSC sample.