ENHANCED PERFORMANCE OF DSSCs USING Ag-DOPED ZnO THIN FILMS SYNTHESIZED BY SUCCESSIVE IONIC LAYER ADSORPTION AND REACTION METHOD

Pure ZnO thin films and Ag doped ZnO (Ag:ZnO) thin films are successfully synthesized using low-cost method. SILAR (Successive Ionic layer Adsorption and reaction) technique is also very easy and simple. The dopant amount is further optimized by varying Ag percentages and investing corresponding optical properties. For 6 wt. % Ag:ZnO, maximum red shift is observed (from 372 to 400 nm). Band gap is also observed to be altered with maximum reduction achieved for 6 wt. % Ag:ZnO thin film (from 2.99 eV for pure ZnO to 2.7 eV). Consequently, optimum (6 wt. %) Ag:ZnO thin film is further used as photoanode in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Additionally, low-cost dye is used in place of expensive dyes used generally in DSSCs. Further structural and morphological characterization of optimum (6 wt. %) Ag:ZnO thin film is also carried over by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Prepared films are observed to be polycrystalline and hexagonal in structure. DSSC made of Ag:ZnO thin film along with inexpensive dye could yet lead to reasonable conversion efficiency. Furthermore, reasonable increment in efficiency (50 %) is achieved compared to DSSC made with pure ZnO film.