English Abstract
ABSTRACT :
In this study green synthesis of silver nanoparticles was accomplished using different natural dye extracts from various plant parts (e.g. Saffron, Salvia, Cinnamon, Gloves, and Pomegranate peels). Both the extracted natural dyes and the grown metallic nanoparticles were optically characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy as well as fluorescence spectroscopy. Also, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to image the grown metallic nanoparticles in order to determine their sizes distribution and shapes. Effects of dye extracts concentration, silver solutions concentration, and silver nanoparticles preparation conditions have been analyzed by studying the variations in absorbance and the characteristic wavelength of the Surface Plasmon Resonance peak (SPR) of silver nanoparticles. The green synthesis procedures of silver nanoparticles using natural dye extracts used in fabrication of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) will be discussed. Operation principles, preparation, assembly and testing of the solar cells will be detailed. Electrical and optical characterization of the solar cells will be presented. It has been found that solar cell electrical parameters such as photocurrent and efficiency were improved in some cases depending on the source of the natural dye extract. Factors limiting cell efficiency will be discussed.
