Enhanced photoelectric performance of nanorod TiO2 film embedded with gold nanoparticles applied in dye sensitized solar cells studied by OptiFDTD

Abstract We developed fundamental design principles to enhance absorption and power properties of nanorod TiO2 photo-anode films in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) over a broad wavelength range by embedding plasmonic gold nanoparticles (NPs). The plasmon-induced electric field distribution in nanorod TiO2 photoanode film embedded with sphere gold NPs has been investigated using finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method based on Maxwell equation. The simulation was done for 500 and 1100 nm of incident plane wave wavelength. FDTD simulation indicates that by the localized surface plasmon resonance effect, the strong photo scattering took place and this increase the absorption path length towards near infrared region inside the active area (anode film) of the solar cell. Furthermore, the power absorption increases from the anode-films that embedded metal NPs of small diameter (40–60 nm) with large gap (10–18 nm) to that of the metal NPs of large diameter (100–150 nm) with small gap (2–6 nm).