Applying the synthesized gold nanoparticles and investigating the effect of ligand-functionalized nanoparticles on efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

With the consumption of energy throughout the world that is continually increasing and with continuous decreasing of the main sources of world's energy, such as fossil fuels, using green and renewable energies such as wind and sun seems necessary. Solar cells are the main devices to convert the solar energy into electricity. Among different types of solar cells, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that are types of nanostructured solar cells have been the subject of a lot of ongoing investigations due to low construction costs and other benefits. In this study, the role that Au metal nanoparticles (NPs) play in improving the efficiency of DSSCs is studied. DSSCs were fabricated by using red tea as a natural dye sensitizer. The Au NPs were synthesized and functionalized with carboxyl group and then were used in the photoanode of the fabricated DSSCs. Operation of this cells in the presence of the NPs and the role of the ligand in protecting NPs and DSSC efficiency was studied. Results show that by reducing resistance of charge transfer in the photoanode of the cell and increasing the absorption through local surface plasmon resonance effect the NPs can increase cell efficiency.