Enhanced Performance of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using Silver Nanoparticles Modified Photoanode
Eli Danladi *
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria.
M. Y. Onimisi
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria.
S. G. Abdu
Department of Physics, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.
P. M. Gyuk
Department of Physics, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Ezeoke Jonathan
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
We reported an improved performance of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) modified fluorine tin oxide (FTO) electrode through successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The resulting photoelectrode was successfully incorporated in the DSSC. The photovoltaic performance was evaluated under 100 mWcm-2 light intensity. The performance, especially the photocurrent, and open circuit voltage of the DSSC containing Ag-NPs was significantly affected by the Ag-NPs. The modified Ag-NPs photoanode shows a short circuit current density (JSC) of 0.0316 mAcm-2, a photovoltage VOC of 0.442 V yielding an overall conversion efficiency of 0.00710%. This represents a 22% improvement in photocurrent over the photocurrent (0.0259 mAcm-2) of bare FTO without Ag-NPs.
Keywords: Dye sensitized solar cells, silver nanoparticles, plasmon enhancement