Herein, the present work focuses on the effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. The bottom–up approach was adapted to synthesize Mn2O3 nanorods via the hydrothermal method and the reduced graphene oxide was merged with Mn2O3 to prepare a nanocomposite. The prepared nanocomposites were subjected to physio-chemical and morphological characterizations which revealed the crystalline nature of Mn2O3 nanorods. The purity level rGO was characterized using the Raman spectrum and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy employed to find the functional groups. The morphological micrographs were visualized using SEM and TEM and the high aspect ratio Mn2O3 nanorods were observed with 5–7 nm and supported by rGO sheets. The electrocatalytic nature and corrosion properties of the counter electrode towards the iodide electrolyte were studied using a symmetrical cell. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were introduced as counter electrodes for DSSC and produced 4.11% of photoconversion efficiency with lower charge transfer resistance. The fabricated DSSC devices were undergone for stability tests for indoor and outdoor atmospheres, the DSSC stability showed 93% and 80% respectively for 150 days.

Enhanced pursuance of dye-sensitized solar cell for indoor and outdoor stability using reduced graphene oxide @ Mn2O3 nanocomposite
    Abstract
        Graphical abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Materials and methods
        2.1 Preparation of Mn2O3 nanorods
        2.2 Synthesis of Mn2O3@rGO
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Structural analysis
        3.2 Raman analysis
        3.3 FTIR analysis
        3.4 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis
        3.5 Morphological studies
        3.6 Dye-sensitized solar cells
    4 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• B. Arjun Kumar(National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE)
• G. Ramalingam(Quantum Material Research Lab (QMRL), Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India)
• Salah Addin Burhan Al Omari(Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE)
• Nanda Kumar Reddy Nallabala(Department of Physics, Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science, Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh 517 325, India)
• P. Sakthivel(Centre for Materials Science, Department of Physics, Science and Humanities, Faculty of Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 021, India)
• Saifudeen Kabeer(National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE)
• Sambasivam Sangaraju(National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE) Corresponding author