Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles (NPs) for enhanced solar applications

Celebramos contribución de

David Emmanuel Vega Herrera

MSc Energy Generation

Ingeniero Químico del IT Mérida

“Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles (NPs) forenhanced solar applications”

Final Report

SUMMARY

Thin-film solar cells have the potential to considerably decrease the cost of photovoltaic devices by reducing by a factor of up to 200 the thickness with compare crystalline silicon solar cells. A major limitation from thin film solar cells is the low efficiency because of its poor light absorption. Scattering from noble metal nanoparticles excited at their surface plasmon resonance can be used to increased light absorption from thin film solar cells. In the present project silver films were deposited at different deposition rates by DC sputter coating on the surface of cleaned and cut microscope glass slides and silicon substrates. The substrates were subsequent annealed at 150^oC, 200^oC and 250^oC for 1 and 3 hours. The aim was to investigate how the deposition method and different parameters used to create Ag silver nanoparticles such as deposit thickness, temperature and time of annealing influenced the Ag nanoparticles size that can be used to increase efficiency of thin film solar cells. The silver nanoparticles were characterised using techniques such as Dark field microscopy used to observe the scattered light from the nanoparticles, Scanning electron microscopy to investigate the size, distribution and morphology of the nanoparticles and X-ray diffraction to identify the crystalline phases of the silver nanoparticles. The results show that by increasing the temperature and annealing time yields increase diameter of the nanoparticle and also modify the morphology. The observed increase in size is attributed to coalescence and aggregates of the deposited silver on the substrate surface. The nanoparticles had a predominant semispherical morphology. Finally, it was found that not only by increasing temperature and time of annealing have a direct increased in particle diameter also the deposition rate has an influence such as in the crystallographic phase and intensity of the formed Ag nanoparticles. Systematic methodology of manufacture silver nanoparticles is a powerful tool that can be used to tailor the diameter from silver nanoparticles that subsequently can be used for increased the absorption by thin film solar cells.

Supervsor: Dr Richard Potter

School of Engineering

University of Liverpool

Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GH

Para citar:

Vega Herrera, D.E. (2014) Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles (NPs) for enhanced solar applications. Final Report, Scholl of Engineering. University of Liverpool. 88p.