Performance Investigation of Ag/WO3 nanocomposite doped TiO2 nanoparticles as a photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract: dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are the most promising approach for generating renewable energy. This is due to the fabrication process and methods, which are relatively cost-effective and simple fibrication. To enhance the efficiency of DSSC, many modifications were used to improve the state-of-the-art materials, such as photoanodes, counter-electrodes, and solid-state electrolytes. In this paper, two samples of Ag@WO3 nanocomposite (S1 and S2) were successfully synthesized using different ablated times of pulsed laser ablation in liquid. The Ag@WO3 nanocomposite was characterized using many different techniques, such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction pattern analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD and FSEM results suggest spherical shapes for Ag nanoparticles and rod shapes for WO3 nanoparticles in nanocomposite composition. The two synthesized samples were successfully used as a dopant in different weight percentages (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) with TiO2 to act as a photoanode in dye-synthesized solar cells. The fabricated DSSCs show a best photo-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.64% for sample S1 (6 wt, % of Ag@WO3), exhibited the highest short circuit current density (Jsc) of 5.94 mA cm−2 and open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.83 V., which was higher by 38.1% than that of TiO2 with no added composite.