Institution: | 1. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia;2. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia;3. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
Centre for Electromagnetic and Lightning Protection (CELP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia;4. Department of Electronic System Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;5. Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia;6. Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia;7. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia;8. Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elektronik & Kejuruteraan Komputer, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia |
Abstract: | The multiple sizing of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from the miscible compound of ethylene glycol (EG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) via the solvothermal method. During the synthesis, the PVP-AgNO3 was contemplated as a paramount parameter. Using the simple method of solvothermal, the sizing of AgNPs was easily controlled in accord with the augmentation of PVP-AgNO3 at secured and moderate temperature. In regards to the sizing of AgNPs, the presence of minimum agglomeration, the absorption capability and chemical structures were highlighted through a series of verification includes ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The effectiveness of the synthesized AgNPs was further investigated and compared with the commercial AgNPs by incorporating the AgNPs into titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor film-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Results signified that the spherical AgNPs with produced sizing within the range of 19.6 to 45.2 nm were greatly impacting by tunable quantities of PVP-AgNO3, which was validated in the forms of linear equations. A larger size promotes a slower nucleation rate that conduces agglomeration. In opposition to this, the smallest size of AgNPs develops a faster formation rate of Ag ions into AgNPs, inducing the deterrent of agglomeration in light of notable particle dispersion. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) contributed by the incorporation of synthesized AgNPs into TiO2 is also 41.2% higher than that of the commercial AgNPs-TiO2. This is because the synthesized AgNPs provides less agglomeration which led to a better surface plasmonic effect towards the nanoparticles. |