Enhancing the Efficiency of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) by Nanostructured Ag‐doped ZnO Electrodes. Issue 29 (3rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rathnasekara, Rusiri; Hari, Parameswar
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 7:Issue 29(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-03
• Subjects: Nanoparticles -- Cyclic Voltammetry -- Electrochemical method -- Silver-doped Zinc Oxide -- Efficiency; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202200830
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: Silver (Ag) ‐ doped ZnO nanoparticles (0 % to 20 %) were synthesized by the microwave method. The structural, optical, and electrochemical properties were observed through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X‐ray (EDX), UV‐Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, and Cyclic‐Voltammetry (C−V) techniques. The platinum metal counter electrode was replaced by using dip coating, spin coating, and electrochemical method electrodes. The best current‐voltage performance was exhibited by the 5 % Ag‐doped ZnO DSSCs constructed by the electrochemical method counter electrode with a conversion efficiency (η) of 6.19 %, open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.58 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 19.12 mA/cm 2 and fill factor of 55.08 %. This performance is superior to the counter electrodes made from the spin coating (1.45 %) and dip coating (0.91 %). The higher catalytic behavior of the electrochemical method counter electrode and appearing plasmons peaks in all Ag‐doped ZnO nanoparticles influence the enhancement of current density and overall conversion efficiency. Abstract : This is the first study of comparison of Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) constructed with different molar concentrations of Silver doped ZnO nanoparticles and three different low‐cost, accessible counter electrodes. It has introduced a unique Energy level analysis of different molar concentrations of Silver doped ZnO nanostructures based on Cyclic Voltammetry characterization. The results from our study could be beneficial in further improving the efficiency of low‐cost dye‐sensitized solar cells.