Optimization of metal nanoparticles concentration in dye solution to enhance performance of dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this study, we incorporate metal nanoparticles of AuNP and AgNP into dye N-719 solution in order to enhance the light absorption of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) device. AuNP or AgNP was mixed into N-719 dye solution by optimized the concentration of metal NPs. The optical property of the mixtures was investigated by use of UV-Vis spectroscopy while the morphology of the solutions was captured by TEM microscopy. The performance of DSSCs was done by J-V measurement equipped with solar simulator under light illumination of 100mW/cm2. Our fabricated DSSC devices show the enhancement of current density and power conversion efficiency (PCE) with the incorporation of metal NPs into dye layer. Addition of gold nanoparticle capped by dodecanethiols (AuDT) 5.66 wt.% reveals the enhancement of PCE devices from 1.58% without AuDT as reference to 2.77% with AuDT. Similar case for the addition of AgSC8 into dye of DSSC gives the same tendencies.