ZnS-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Materials as Photoanodes with Improved Photovoltaic Performance

Abstract

Solution capable Zinc sulfide-Reduced graphene oxide (ZnS-rGO) nanohybrid composite has been developed by a simple step facile hydrothermal method. During the process GO was reduced into rGO and the different contentment of rGO were uniformly loaded into the ZnO nanoparticles. Hexagonal crystal structure and well spherical shaped individual nanoparticles (40–60\xa0nm) are decorated uniformly on the rGO nanosheet, which is identified through X-ray diffraction and Field emission scanning electron microscope studies. The huge specific area (105.21\xa0m 2 /g) and pore size (27.24\xa0nm) distribution of ZnS/rGO was observed by N 2 absorption–desorption analysis. The sandwich type solar cell was assembled using ZnS/rGO as counter electrode (CE), which delivers a high photocurrent density (16.21\xa0mA/cm 2 ), open-circuit voltage (0.82\xa0V), fill factor (70.1%), and photo conversion efficiency (8.75%). This can be attributed to synergic effect between ZnS and rGO, which induce the effective separation of photo induced electron–hole pairs and transfer ability, simultaneously, prevent the recombination rate electron–hole pairs. The results suggest that this novel hybrid counter electrode can be used as a high performance photovoltaic device application.