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Synthesis and Characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Nickel Cobalt Sulfide Composite as Cathode for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell
1Institute of MIcroengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
2Chemisty Department, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
3Chemistry Department, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
4Physics Department, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
*Email Address : mohd.yusri@ukm.edu.my
Abstract : Reduced graphene oxide-nickel cobalt sulfide (RGO-NiCo2S4) composite has been synthesized via modified Hummers’s method followed by solvothermal reaction. The composite was deposited onto ITO using spin coating technique. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of growth time on the properties of RGO-NiCo2S4. The x-ray diffractogram (XRD) shows dominant peaks belonging to cubic phase of NiCo2S4. FTIR spectra prove the succesfull reduction of GO to RGO. The morphology of the composite is described by main parent agglomerate round shape, sheets and smaller round shape on the surface of main agglomerate. The EDX proves the presence of the elements forming RGO-NiCo2S4 composite. The highest transmittance of the sample is 52% belonging to the pure RGO. The optical transmittance of RGO-NiCo2S4 decreases with the increase of growth time. According to Raman characterization, it demonstrates the existence of RGO in the composite and the growth time influences the ID/IG ratio. The composite shows the D and G bands with the ID/IG ratio increases as the growth time increases. According to the photovoltaic performance test, the highest η of 0.82% and Jsc of 2.20 mA cm-2 were obtained from the dye-sensitized solar cell with 8 hours growth time of RGO-NiCo2S4.
Keywords : composite, dye-sensitized solar cells, growth time, morphology, RGO-NiCo2S4