Fabrications and Photovoltaic Properties of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers Containing Ag Nanoparticles

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers were prepared by an electrospinning method using a PVA solution containing silver nitrate (AgNO3) to improve the photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The electrospun PVA nanofibers containing AgNO3 were irradiated with UV light at 310∼380 nm and Ag nanoparticles were generated in their nanofibers. In the DSSC devices using the electrospun PVA/Ag nanofibers, the J sc , V oc , FF, and η showed the values of 11.9∼12.5 mA/cm2, 0.70∼0.71 V, 0.55∼0.59, and 4.73∼4.99%, respectively. When the electrospun PVA/Ag (1 wt%) nanofibers were used in the DSSC device, the power conversion efficiency showed a maximum value of 4.99%, which is higher than that of DSSC using electrospun PVA nanofibers without Ag nanoparticles.