International Conference on Energy Harvesting Storage and Conversion (IC-EEE 2015)
Februery 4-7, 2015 Kochi, India
No. 64 Laser Ablated Silver Nanoparticles: Potential Candidate for Solar Cell Application Jemy James1,b), Alok Tiwari2, Avinash M. S2 , Bhavitha K.B2, Nandakumar Kalarikkal1 2,a) School of Pure and Applied Physics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.686560 2 International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.686560 a)
[email protected] b)
[email protected]
1
Abstract. The work presents the results of liquid ablation of silver target for Silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) production with controlled properties for specific application in Solar Cells. The importance of Solar cell varies from rural villages to extra terrestrial mission to moon and mars. Solar cells have evolved from Edmond Becquerel’s discovery of Photovoltaic effect in 1839 to the latest thin film solar cells. The energy conversion efficiency has also improved considerably during the past 175 years. The modern day technology, of thin film solar cells have a demonstrated efficiency of 21% for 50 micron thin films, but the slight drawback of the thin film technology is the need for photon trapping structures. Noble metal nanoparticles, with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), are emerging as potential constituents for improving the energy conversion efficiency of thin-film Silicon solar cells. Ag NPs are .potential candidate for this application. Liquid Phase Laser Ablation (LPLA) of Silver targets yielded Ag NP and the advantage of LPLA is the synthesis of tailor made AgNP depending on the Laser beam parameters. For the present study, the Nd:YAG Laser of wavelength 1064 nm at 190 mJ was focused on a Silver target in aqueous medium using a 8.5cm Plano-Convex lens. The appearance of yellow coloured aqueous solution indicated the formation of the AgNP. Transmission Electron Microscope images confirmed the size of the nanoparticles in the range of 10-20nm. We propose to use the as formed AgNPs as a back side reflection layer material to employ the Surface Plasmon Resonance from the said AgNPs to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell. A marked improvement in the energy conversion efficiency of Si-Thin film solar cells will only make it stronger to compete with Cadmium Telluride Solar cells, its strongest rival.
Key Words: Laser Ablation, Silver Nanoparticles, Plasmonic Resonance
Session xx – Oral/Poster yy
