One-step in situ synthesis of antimony sulfide/reduced graphene oxide composite as an absorber layer with enhanced photocurrent performances for solar cells

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Molaei, Pezhman, Kazeminezhad, Iraj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorbers; Antimony; Bilayers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; Crystallites; Crystals; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Graphene; Heterostructures; Holes (electron deficiencies); Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Organic chemistry; Performance enhancement; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric emission; Photonics; Photovoltaic cells; Physical Chemistry; Recombination; Research Paper; Self-assembly; Solar cells; Spectroscopy; Sulfides; Synergistic effect; Titanium dioxide; rGO composite; S; rGO photocurrent; Energy conversion; rGO CBD; Nanostructured materials; rGO EIS; Sb
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-019-4490-9

Antimony sulfide/reduced graphene oxide (Sb 2 S 3 -rGO) composite was successfully deposited on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanorod array via a novel one-step chemical bath deposition method. The heterostructures were characterized by structural, optical, and electrochemical measurements. The self-assembled combination of Sb 2 S 3 and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanostructure in the nanoarchitecture indicated a promising synergistic effect for solar cells with a remarkable enhanced electrochemical performance. The average crystallite size of 27 and 30 nm was calculated for Sb 2 S 3 -rGO and Sb 2 S 3 , respectively, from XRD measurement, and the diameter of nanoparticles grown on rGO nanosheet was estimated about 50 nm from FESEM images. Moreover, the result of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicated that the TiO 2 /Sb 2 S 3 -rGO bilayer interfacial resistance was approximately five times lower than that of TiO 2 /Sb 2 S 3 . Additionally, TiO 2 /Sb 2 S 3 -rGO exhibited a rapid and stable photocurrent density that was seven times greater compared to that of TiO 2 /Sb 2 S 3 . These enhancements were mainly ascribed to the presence of the conductive rGO sheets that acting as an electron reservoir through retarding electron-hole recombination. These achievements strongly suggested the Sb 2 S 3 -rGO composite as a promising material for use as an absorber layer in solid state Sb 2 S 3 -sensitized solar cells.