Enhancing the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Silver Nanoparticles Modified Photoanode

Faizah Saadmim; Taseen Forhad; Ahmed Sikder; William Ghann; Meser M. Ali; Viji Sitther; A. J. Saleh Ahammad; Md. Abdus Subhan; Jamal Uddin

doi:10.3390/molecules25174021

Molecules (Sep 2020)

Enhancing the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Silver Nanoparticles Modified Photoanode

Faizah Saadmim,
Taseen Forhad,
Ahmed Sikder,
William Ghann,
Meser M. Ali,
Viji Sitther,
A. J. Saleh Ahammad,
Md. Abdus Subhan,
Jamal Uddin

Affiliations

Faizah Saadmim: Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA
Taseen Forhad: Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA
Ahmed Sikder: Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA
William Ghann: Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA
Meser M. Ali: Department of Neurosurgery, Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Viji Sitther: School of Computer, Morgan State University, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
A. J. Saleh Ahammad: Department of Chemistry, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh
Md. Abdus Subhan: Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, Bangladesh
Jamal Uddin: Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, 2500 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25174021
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 25, no. 17
p. 4021

Abstract

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In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized, and applied to a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to enhance the efficiency of solar cells. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized with UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The silver nanoparticles infused titanium dioxide film was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The performance of DSSC fabricated with silver nanoparticle-modified photoanode was compared with that of a control group. The current and voltage characteristics of the devices as well as the electrochemical impedance measurements were also carried out to assess the performance of the fabricated solar cells. The solar-to-electric efficiency of silver nanoparticles based DSSC was 1.76%, which is quite remarkable compared to the 0.98% realized for DSSC fabricated without silver nanoparticles.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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