One-step hydrothermal synthesis of Ag decorated TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cell application. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Yong Xiang; Wang, Xuan Liang; Jin, En Mei; Jeong, Sang Mun; Jin, Bo; Lee, See Hoon
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 135(2019)
• Page Start: 1207
• Page End: 1212
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Hydrothermal synthesis -- Ag-TiO2 -- Visible light absorption -- Photovoltaic activity -- Dye-sensitized solar cell; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.12.062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past few years, many efforts have been made to develop efficient visible light-activated photovoltaic materials. In this study, the Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by using the hydrothermal method. Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles showed significantly higher visible light absorption and better photovoltaic activity than anatase TiO2 . TiO2 nanoparticles were decorated with different concentrations of Ag to improve their photovoltaic properties. All the as-prepared TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles showed a pure anatase crystalline structure. In addition, the Ag-doped nanoparticles showed broader absorption edges (which shifted to higher wavelengths) than the undoped nanoparticles. The solar conversion efficiency ( η ) of 0.1M Ag-decorated (Ag0.1 -TiO2 ) nanoparticle-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was 6.44%, which is ∼22% higher than that of the TiO2 nanoparticle-based DSSC ( η of 5.05%). Highlights: A hydrothermal method has been used to synthesize Ag-doped TiO2 (Ag-TiO2 ) nanoparticles. Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles showed high visible light absorption in the visible spectral region. Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles showed high photocurrent density ( J sc ) and solar conversion efficiency ( η ). Ag doping increased the solar conversion efficiency by 22% than anatase TiO2 .