Silver nanoparticles loaded ZnO photoelectrode with Rose Bengal as a sensitizer for dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect associated with spatially dispersed metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the surface of metal oxide, which enhances the light-harvesting efficiency and promotes the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In the present work, we report the noval approach for dual sensitization of ZnO photo electrode dye sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) using AgNPs and Rose Bengal dye. The DSSC fabricated using pristine ZnO with Rose Bengal sensitizer showed the circuit current density Jsc of 4.6 mA cm−2, open circuit voltage (Voc) 0.75 V and fill factor (FF) of 61.2 and power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 2.1%, whereas the dual sensitization by using AgNPs and Rose Bengal based device exhibited Jsc of 8.2 mA cm−2, Voc 0.68 V and FF of 67.2 and enhanced PCE value of 3.8%.