Optimized reduction of graphite oxide for highly exfoliated silver nanoparticles anchored graphene sheets for dye sensitized solar cell applications

Abstract In the present work, we have synthesized graphene sheets by optimizing reduction of graphite oxide (GO) by hydrazine hydrate (N 2 H 4 ·xH 2 O) reducing agent and anchored them with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Morphological and spectroscopic studies confirmed the formation of highly exfoliated graphene sheets separated by Ag NPs with improved C/O ratio. The highly electrocatalytic and exfoliated network of graphene sheets/Ag nanocoatings uniformly adhered to FTO substrate has been utilized as platinum (Pt) free counter electrode (CE) in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Fabricated DSSC with only 2.7 μm thick TiO 2 photoanode exhibited photo conversion efficiency (η = 3.44%) and short circuit current density (J sc  = 7.03 mA cm −2 ) comparable to DSSC containing Pt-CE without any loss of open circuit voltage (V oc  = 0.71 V) and fill factor (FF = 0.68).