Employing green synthesized silver nanoparticles as light harvesters in nanostructured solar cells

Abstract

Surface plasmon resonance associated with metallic nanoparticles is an optical phenomenon which can be exploited to improve light harvesting in solar cells. Silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted attention for solar cell application these days, due to their better light harvesting abilities in the visible range. The quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) are one of the third generation photoelectro chemical solar cells which hold a promise of 44% theoretically but practically achieved 5% photovoltaic efficiency till date. The present work focuses on the use of Ag NPs prepared from a facile green synthesis in improving the efficiency of QDSSC. Ag NPs prepared here use banana sap for reducing the Ag ions. Cadmium sulphide quantum dots sensitized titania (CdS-TiO2) porous photo anode is coated with Ag NPs and solar cell is fabricated with graphite as the counter electrode and polysulfide as electrolyte. Optical absorption studies of photo anode are performed and basic photovoltaic measurements are conducted to evaluate the influence of Ag NPs on the cell performance.