Hybrid AgNP-TiO2 thin film based photoanode for dye sensitized solar cell

SummaryThis article addresses two major issues in the plasmonic dye solar cell; (i) protection of plasmonic nanoparticles from electrolyte attack and (ii) design of appropriate molecular dye to harvest photon near the plasmonic resonance. This report reveals the synthesis of D-π-A carbazole dye and incorporation of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) into TiO2 film using Ag-TiO2 gel. We have designed and synthesized an efficient D-π-A carbazole dye molecule whose absorption maxima matches the plasmonic resonance of AgNPs leading to augmented near field effect, enhancing photon harvesting property of dye molecule. This article also describes a strategy to incorporate AgNPs into the TiO2 photoelectrode by Ag-TiO2 gel. The plasmonic photoanode was characterized using SEM and optical spectroscopy. Dye solar cells were characterized by J-V characteristics and electrochemical impedance technique in order to take insight into photovoltaic performance and electron transfer kinetic. This engineered DSSC achieves 45% enhancement in current due to the plasmon enhanced near field effect at thin film (3 μm).