Plasmonic Ag@Nb2O5 surface passivation layer on quantum confined SnO2 films for high current dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Abstract Quantum-confined SnO 2 nanoparticles of size 2 films are used as photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Very high current and improved conversion efficiencies are the characteristic of these SnO 2 solar cells compared to those from literature. Applying an Nb 2 O 5 energy layer on top of SnO 2 films via RF sputtering resulted in an improvement in performance of these solar cells. Ag nanoparticle/Nb 2 O 5 composite is applied as plasmonic surface passivation layer on SnO 2 photoanodes which improved the absorption spectra of the dye-sensitized photoanodes and the current density (17.44–23.12 mA/cm 2 ) and power conversion efficiencies (4.36%–6.47%) of the DSSCs. This article thus focuses on synthesis and quantum confinement properties of SnO 2 nanoparticles, the effect of Nb 2 O 5 and Ag nanoparticles on the optical and electronic properties of the SnO 2 photoanodes and finally the photovoltaic properties of the SnO 2 photoanodes with Nb 2 O 5 /Ag-Nb 2 O 5 surface passivation layers.