Performance of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Using Titanium Dioxide and Silver Nanowire Composite Film

Abstract

In this study, various concentrations of silver nanowires (AgNWs) were added to titanium dioxide (TiO2) paste, which was then uniformly coated onto indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass substrates by a doctor blade method. The coated substrate underwent a molding process to ensure an average film thickness of 10 μm. Subsequently, the substrate was annealed in a high-temperature furnace to enhance the structural stability and electrical performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). After annealing, DSSCs were assembled with a photoanode, a thermoplastic film, and a counter electrode by a sandwich stacking method. The short-circuit current density (Jsc) and photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of the assembled DSSCs with various concentrations of AgNWs were measured. The DSSC without AgNWs presented a Jsc of 7.71 mA/cm2 and a PCE of 3.54%. In contrast, the DSSC with 0.05 wt% AgNWs exhibited an increased Jsc of 8.14 mA/cm2 and a PCE of 4.14%, representing a significant efficiency improvement.