Abstract
Silicon (Si) nanoparticles with average size of 13 nm and orangered luminescence under UV absorption were synthesized using electrochemical etching of silicon wafers. A film of Si nanoparticles with thickness of 0.75 mu m to 2.6 mu m was coated on the glass (TiO2 side) of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The cell exhibited nearly 9% enhancement in power conversion efficiency (eta) at film thickness of similar to 2.4 mu m under solar irradiation of 100 mW/cm(2) (AM 1.5) with improved fill factor and short-circuit current density. This study revealed for the first time that the Si-nanoparticle film converting UV into visible light and helping in homogeneous irradiation, can be utilized for improving the efficiency of the DSSCs. (c) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim