Surface plasmonic effects on dye-sensitized solar cells by SiO sub(2)-encapsulated Ag nanoparticles

• Published in: Current applied physics Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 397 - 403
• Main Authors: Hossain, Ashraf, Park, Jieun, Yoo, Dayoung, Baek, Youn-kyoung, Kim, Yangdo, Kim, Soo Hyung, Lee, Dongyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2016
• Subjects: Dyes; Nanoparticles; Optimization; Photovoltaic cells; Silicon dioxide; Silver; Solar cells; Volatile organic compounds
• ISSN: 1567-1739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cap.2016.01.002

A series of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with different amounts of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) coated with a SiO sub(2) layer were prepared as core-shell AgiO sub(2) nanoparticles (AgiO sub(2) NPs). The influence of the amount of AgiO sub(2) NPs on the performance of the DSSCs was investigated. As the amount of AgiO sub(2) NPs increased, the intensity of the light-absorption spectra of the photoanodes gradually increased, whereas the amount of dye absorption was decreased. The short-circuit current density (J sub(sc)), open-circuit voltage (V sub(oc)), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) initially increased gradually and then decreased with increasing amounts of AgiO sub(2) NPs; the charge-transfer resistance (R sub(2)) exhibited the opposite trend. Optimal J sub(sc), V sub(oc), and PCE values of 13.85 mA/cm super(2), 0.66 V, and 6.16%, respectively, were obtained in a DSSC containing 3 wt.% AgiO sub(2) NPs; this PCE is 43.25% higher than that of a photoanode without AgiO sub(2) NPs. The significant improvements in the properties of the optimal DSSC are attributed to the increase in the light coupling, which increased the light absorption of the dye, owing to the localized surface plasmon resonance of the AgiO sub(2) NPs.