In situ preparation of TiO2-graphene nano-hybrid and its application in dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells

• Grant number: 15/18182-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Simone Stucchi de Camargo Alvarez Bernardez
• Grantee: Andrea Simone Stucchi de Camargo Alvarez Bernardez
• Visiting researcher: Mohammad Reza Mohammadi
• Visiting researcher institution: Sharif University of Technology, Iran
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass, AP.CEPID

Abstract

This proposal seeks to enhance electron injection, electron transport and optical absorption of nanostructured TiO2-based solar cells in order to improve their power conversion efficiency. Therefore, we propose TiO2-graphene nano-hybrid, featuring high electron transport, for the manufacture of efficient solar cells. TiO2-graphene nano-hybrids with various TiO2: graphene weight ratios are firstly synthesized by a new in situ process and then are employed for fabrication of dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells. Moreover, we will try to take a closer look into nucleation, growth and crystallization kinetics of TiO2 nanoparticles on graphene sheets. These findings allow us to demonstrate the feasibility of the new concept for improvement of solar efficiency by effective electron transport rate. (AU)