Recent Advances in Graphene-Enabled Materials for Photovoltaic Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Graphene’s two-dimensional structural arrangement has sparked a revolutionary transformation in the domain of conductive transparent devices, presenting a unique opportunity in the renewable energy sector. This comprehensive Review critically evaluates the most recent advances in graphene production and its employment in solar cells, focusing on dye-sensitized, organic, and perovskite devices for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) designs. This comprehensive investigation discovered the following captivating results: graphene integration resulted in a notable 20.3% improvement in energy conversion rates in graphene-perovskite photovoltaic cells. In comparison, BHJ cells saw a laudable 10% boost. Notably, graphene’s 2D internal architecture emerges as a protector for photovoltaic devices, guaranteeing long-term stability against various environmental challenges. It acts as a transportation facilitator and charge extractor to the electrodes in photovoltaic cells. Additionally, this Review investigates current research highlighting the role of graphene derivatives and their products in solar PV systems, illuminating the way forward. The study elaborates on the complexities, challenges, and promising prospects underlying the use of graphene, revealing its reflective implications for the future of solar photovoltaic applications.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance by ZnO/Graphene heterojunction grown on Ni foam for methylene blue removal

“…One of the ways to improve the properties of ZnO is by forming heterostructures with graphene. CVD Graphene presents outstanding properties such as transparency, flexibility, high carrier mobility and mechanical stability [55][56][57]. When graphene is grown in 3D structures the carbon atoms are exposed on the surface, resulting in a large surface area and giving a large number of active sites [58].…”