abstract
In the present study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles in titanosilicate matrix through low cost non-hydrolytic sol-gel method using titanium isopropoxide (TIP), tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS, (Si(OC2H5)(4)) and ethanol (C2H5OH) as solvents. These were investigated for the plasmonic effect of nanoparticles in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells with Ag: SiO2-TiO2 films coated in fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass plate with dye of amaranthus red shows an improved output voltage. The samples were optically and structurally well studied by absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The XRD studies confirmed the crystalline nature of TiO2 and Ag.
keywords
EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT; ENHANCEMENT; GOLD; AG; ABSORBER; TIO2
subject category
Chemistry; Materials Science; Physics
authors
Kumar, KVA; Balu, A; Ramachandran, A; Unnikrishnan, NV; Selvaraj, NB
Groups
acknowledgements
The author (AK) is thankful to University Grants Commission (UGC), Govt of India for financial Support. The author AK would like to acknowledge STIC, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi and SPAP, Mahatma Gandhi University, Koattayam for providing the characterization facilities. AK also thanks Dr. K. S. Sreelatha and Jinchu. I, Govt College Kottayam for the DSSC fabrication support. NBS acknowledges FCT for financial support (SFRH/BPD/82158/2011). Part of work completed in India and collaboration with one of the author Dr. Nivas Babu Selvaraj at University of Averio.