Electrochemical exfoliation is a promising and reasonably priced technique for producing graphene-derived materials for sustainable energy devices. This study used a two-electrode setup (graphite cathode, copper anode, aqueous H₂SO₄, 5–10 V) to create carbon nanosheets for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The exfoliated material was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) after it had been collected, cleaned, centrifuged, and oven-dried. XRD showed restacked graphitic domains in place of as-oxidized graphene oxide, with a prominent (002) reflection at 2θ = 26.53° (d = 0.335 nm) and a broad feature at 44.53°. Near 450 nm, DRS showed a large absorption, and direct-allowed Tauc analysis revealed an apparent optical gap of 1.66 eV. While EDS reported C ~76 wt% and O ~24 wt%, which are consistent with partly oxidized carbon, SEM showed agglomerated flakes. Using a starch–glycerol–carbon gel electrolyte, pomegranate dye sensitization, and doctor-bladed TiO₂ (dried at 80 °C), prototype DSSCs were produced on ITO. When lit, the devices generated V_OC = 372 mV and I ≈ 0.25 µA. The negligible photocurrent was attributed to insufficient TiO₂ necking (no high-temperature sinter) and the absence of an iodide/triiodide (I⁻/I₃⁻) redox mediator. The combined structural and optical features demonstrate that the cathodic arrangement is consistent with a graphitic/restacked material. From a sustainability perspective, the approach leverages inexpensive carbon sources, aqueous electrolytes, biodegradable gel hosts, and natural dye sensitizers. An upgrade path has been proposed involving anodic exfoliation using graphite as the positive electrode, avoidance of copper dissolution, inclusion of a redox mediator, high-temperature sintering of TiO₂ on FTO substrates, and advanced characterization (Raman, XPS). These measures are expected to significantly improve efficiency and establish a reproducible workflow for sustainable, carbon-enabled DSSCs.

Keywords: Electrochemical Exfoliation; Graphene Oxide; Carbon Nanomaterials; Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC); Green Polymer Electrolytes;