Plasmon-Enhanced Efficiency in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Decorated with Size-Controlled Silver Nanoparticles Based on Anthocyanins as Light Harvesting Pigment

Danladi Eli

doi:10.11648/j.jmpt.20160201.12

Abstract

The enhancement in efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells decorated with size-controlled silver nanoparticles based on anthocyanins as light harvesting pigment through successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) was demonstrated. Studies indicate that, the short-circuit current density (JSC) and open-circuit voltage (VOC), of DSSCs containing AgNPs were significantly improved. The photovoltaic (PV) performance decreased with increasing size of AgNPs from one SILAR cycle to two SILAR cycles, the best performance was achieved using the anode prepared with one SILAR cycle. An enhancement of 35.8 % was achieved when the thickness was around 16 nm (one SILAR) over the bare FTO device. When the size of AgNPs was around 32 nm (two SILAR), an enhancement of 10.4% was recorded over the reference device. This selective enhancement in efficiency in the Ag plasmonic absorption regions is indicative of the fact that the incorporation of metal nanoparticles is beneficial for enhanced absorption and charge separation.

Highlights

IntroductionThe first generation photovoltaic solar cells is based on a single crystalline semiconductor wafer
Solar cell technologies have evolved into three generations [1]
The absorption peak of dye extract was observed around 550 nm which ascertains the presence of anthocyanin pigment and in agreement with onimisi et al [13]

Summary

Introduction

The first generation photovoltaic solar cells is based on a single crystalline semiconductor wafer. The third generation solar cell known as Grätzel cells or dye-sensitized solar cells was successfully achieved by combination of nanostructured electrodes and efficient charge injecting dyes [2]. The low efficiency of conversion and stability are the major problems confronting the third generation solar cell. Facilitating means in achieving higher efficiencies are focused in optimizing the morphology of the active photovoltaic layer and the charge transport properties of the absorber through thermal annealing treatment, use of various solvents, the use of additives and the process conditions [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Plasmonic introduction in photoactive layers of DSSC, to trap or confine light inside the active layer and enhance the absorption in the semiconductor film could provide superior performances [11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22] presumably due to their unique electronic, optical and magnetic properties [10, 11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion