Plasmonic Effects of Infiltrated Silver Nanoparticles Inside TiO₂ Film: Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance in DSSCs

Abstract

The plasmonic effects of infiltrated silver (Ag) nanoparticles, with different contents, inside a nanostructured TiO2 film on the photovoltaic performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are explored. The synthesized Ag nanoparticles are immobilized onto deposited TiO2 nanoparticles by a new strategy using 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), a bifunctional linker molecule. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show that monodispersed Ag and polydispersed TiO2 nanoparticles have an average diameter of 12 ± 3 nm and 5 ± 1 nm, respectively. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis reveals that Ag nanoparticles were successfully functionalized and capped with MPA. Optical studies on the MPA‐capped Ag nanoparticles inside TiO2 film show an increase in the total absorbance of the electrode. Moreover, EIS measurements confirm that MPA‐capped Ag nanoparticles inhibit the charge recombination and improve the stability of nanoparticles in I3−/I− electrolyte. The DSSC assembled with optimal content of MPA‐capped Ag nanoparticles demonstrated an enhanced power conversion efficiency (8.82% ± 0.07%) compared with the pure TiO2 (7.30% ± 0.05%). The increase in cell efficiency was attributed to the enhanced dye light absorption in strength and spectral range due to the surface plasmon resonance of MPA‐capped Ag nanoparticles in the photoanode.

Electrochemical Observation of the Plasmonic Effect in Photochromic Ag Nanoparticle Filled Mesoporous TiO2 Films

“…Silver NPs are of particular interest for TiO 2 modification due to the plasmonic resonance of Ag NPs in the UV/visible range − and its remarkable photocatalytic activity. − Silver is also well-known for its photochemical activity. For example, light induces the formation of metallic silver seeds in a silver halide emulsion used in photography making silver reduction easier. − Adding TiO 2 to a silver NP environment induces drastic property changes.…”

Activated Carbon Fibers “Thickly Overgrown” by Ag Nanohair Through Self-Assembly and Rapid Thermal Annealing

“…Strong repulsive interaction between AgNPs also causes monodispersion on the fiber surface. After pre-oxidation, the AgNPs on the fiber surfaces corroded to AgO or AgCl under exposure to air [ 13 ]. Nevertheless, the corrosion products can reduce to metallic Ag during subsequent high-temperature carbonization because viscose cellulose can release CO and other gaseous reductants in an oxygen-free environment [ 14 ].…”

A single layer deposition of Li-doped mesoporous TiO2 beads for low-cost and efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

“…TiO2 nanoparticles were also synthesized by a combination of sol-gel and hydrothermal methods based on our previous work, 32 to provide an additional control sample. The performance of cells made of mesoporous beads were compared with that composed of anatase-TiO2 nanoparticles.…”