Influence of Ag Nanowires with Different Morphologies on Light Trapping Abilities and Optoelectronic Properties of Ag Nanowires/ZnO:Al Nanorods Composite Films

Abstract

The Ag nanowires/ZnO:Al nanorods (Ag NWs/AZO NRs) composite films were prepared by the simple hydrothermal growth of AZO NRs on the AZO seed layer (SL) at the void regions among the Ag NWs. Distinctive morphology evolution of the Ag NWs depending on the mass of FeCl3⋅6H2O solution was observed on the AZO SL. The effect of Ag NWs with different morphologies on the structure, morphology, optoelectronic properties and light trapping abilities of Ag NWs/AZO NRs composite films was investigated systematically. In particular, the relationship between the morphology, light trapping and electrical properties of the composite films was analyzed in detail. When 7 g of FeCl3⋅6H2O solution was added, Ag NWs with a length of about 50 μM were generated, and the Ag NWs overlapped adequately with each other to form a network structure beneficial to conductivity. Meanwhile, the Ag NWs/AZO NRs composite films containing Ag NWs prepared with 7 g FeCl3⋅6H2O solution exhibited high TT (above 80%), high haze value (0.29) at 550 nm and low sheet resistance (5.9 Ω/sq), which can be employed as transparent electrodes for improving electrical and light trapping properties in solar cells.