N.U. Ahamad, M. Rahman
Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh,
Bangladesh
Keywords: plasmonic solar cell, core-shell nanoparticles, thin film, zeta potential, hot electrons, semiconductor, charge carriers
Summary:
The goal of this project was to fabricate plasmonic solar cell platform using Ag@TiO2 nanostructured as building blocks. Formation of Ag@TiO2 nanostructures was primarily assumed by stability test in HNO3 acid and further characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD and UV-Vis. extinction spectra. UV-Vis. extinction spectra of colloidal Ag@TiO2 showed a plasmon absorption band centered at 270nm and a broad band at longer wavelength (380-800nm) arising from inter-particles (plasmon) coupling. XRD result showed the formation of both rutile (110) and anatase (101) along with metallic Ag (200). SEM-EDS analysis revealed nanostructures carrying Ti, O and Ag elements. Electroless deposition of Ag on the film made it continuous and showed electrical conductivity. Further research is being conducted to optimize the parameters and continuing study of the hot-electrons involvement in the photoconductivity of the as prepared platform.