Abstract
An auspicious way to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of third generation sensitized solar cells is to improve the light harvesting ability of TiO2 sensitizer and inhibition of back recombination reactions. In the present work, we have simultaneously comprehended both the factors using stable bimetallic Au and Ag metal nanoparticles (Mnps) embedded in TiO2 with ion implantation technique at lower fluence range; and explored them in third generation dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best performing Au-Ag implanted DSSC (Fluence- 6 × 1015 ions cm−2) revealed 87.97% enhancement in its PCE relative to unimplanted DSSC; due to plasmon induced optical and electrical effects of Mnps. Here, optimized bimetallic Au-Ag Mnps embedded in TiO2 improves light harvesting of N719 dye; due to the well matched localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band of Au and Ag with low and high energy absorption bands of N719 dye molecules, respectively. Furthermore, Au and Ag acts as charge separation centers in TiO2 that inhibit the recombination reactions occurring at photoanode/electrolyte interface via prolonging photo-generated electron lifetime; resulting in efficient inter-facial charge transportation in DSSCs.
Highlights
In last decade, third generation sensitized solar cells have achieved tremendous consideration out of authoritative traditional silicon based photovoltaic technology in tandem cell configuration; owing to their low manufacturing cost, non-toxic nature and undeniable higher theoretical limit of power conversion efficiencies (PCE)[1,2,3,4,5]
Maximum 230% enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), having modified TiO2 photoanodes with Au-Ag nanocomposites, have been achieved by Lim et al that originates from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) synergistic interactions between Au and Ag metal nanoparticles (Mnps) resulting in the improved light harvesting; and efficient charge separation and transportation processes[27]
We have investigated the use of ion implantation technique to embed Au and Ag Mnps inside TiO2 semiconductor of DSSCs; resulting in efficient enhancement in the PCE of highly stable plasmonic DSSCs via extending the region of light harvesting within UV-Vis-NIR, by utilizing LSPR absorptions of Au and Ag Mnps as well as improving the charge transfer processes by reducing recombination rate of photo-generated charge carriers, owing to their charge storage ability
Summary
Third generation sensitized solar cells have achieved tremendous consideration out of authoritative traditional silicon based photovoltaic technology in tandem cell configuration; owing to their low manufacturing cost, non-toxic nature and undeniable higher theoretical limit of power conversion efficiencies (PCE)[1,2,3,4,5]. We observed that the single crystalline spherical shaped Ag nps incorporated in TiO2 via chemical reduction method, effectively improves the absorption cross-section of dye sensitizer[14]. Ag Mnps implantation in TiO2 showed 65.3% enhancement in PCE of DSSC20 Their increment is not a match for its economical utilization; since efficient light harvesting in Au as well as Ag implanted DSSCs is only around single LSPR absorption wavelength; resulting in unsatisfactory PCEs. In order to further enhance the light harvesting ability of TiO2 within the whole visible region of solar spectrum, Kim et al demonstrated the efficient energy matching between the absorption bands of N719 dye and Au and Ag Mnps; resulting in relatively enhanced PCE of double layered plasmonic DSSCs by 19.12%21. Maximum 230% enhancement in PCE of DSSCs, having modified TiO2 photoanodes with Au-Ag nanocomposites, have been achieved by Lim et al that originates from LSPR synergistic interactions between Au and Ag Mnps resulting in the improved light harvesting; and efficient charge separation and transportation processes[27]
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