CTAB capped Ag-NPs incorporated with TiO2 for Plasmonic DSSC

ABSTRACT To improve the light harvesting efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar cell (DSSC), we have investigated localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property of Noble metal nanoparticles in this work. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) capped silver nanoparticles have been prepared by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL) method and studied for spectroscopic and morphologic investigations. FTIR confirms the capping of CTAB on Silver nanoparticles occurs via their head group. These nanoparticles have been incorporated in DSSC. Two types of DSSC were prepared: A and B samples (A sample with CTAB capping Ag NPs and B sample without CTAB capped Ag Nps). J-V characteristics of the DSSC under AM1 illumination showed enhanced Isc and Voc for A compared with B by 3.39 and 1.21 respectively. After using the Ag NPs, the efficiency of DSSC has increased from 0.27 to 1.15 %.