Next-generation Cost- Effective Photovoltaic Cell with Tailored Structural and Optical Properties of Silicon nanowires with Silver Nanoparticle Deposition

Metallic nanoparticles deposited semiconductor nanowires, a kind of heterostructures, show a remarkable property to strengthen optical and optoelectrical characteristics due to the coupling of surface plasmon with nanowires. The Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are synthesized with metal-assisted chemical etching with different etching duration. Then silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are deposited by the electroless deposition method over SiNWs, by maintaining the optimum deposition parameter. Here, the nanowire structures provided the flexibility to incorporate multiple metallic nanoparticles in a single system, which could have multiple applications in nanotechnology. Improved light absorption, increased surface area and enhanced charge carrier mobility make this substrate useful for next-generation photovoltaic cells. We experimentally measured the roughness of SiNWs and Ag-deposited SiNWs using atomic force microscopy, crystallite size using X-ray diffraction, optical reflectance by UV-visible spectroscopy, vibration and stretching of bonds by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and modified bandgap by photoluminescence spectroscopy. Our studies show that the change in the behaviour of SiNWs with deposition of AgNPs exhibits multifunctional properties, which can be of great significance in the field of nanowire solar cells, nanoelectronic devices, biological sensors, thermoelectric generators and high-efficiency photovoltaic cell.

Automated summary

Metallic nanoparticles deposited on semiconductor nanowires, known as heterostructures, enhance optical and optoelectrical characteristics through the interaction between surface plasmons and nanowires. Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were synthesized using metal-assisted chemical etching and then silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were deposited on the SiNWs using electroless deposition. The flexibility of the nanowire structures allows for the incorporation of multiple metallic nanoparticles, making them useful for various applications in nanotechnology. The deposition of AgNPs on SiNWs results in improved light absorption, increased surface area, and enhanced charge carrier mobility, making this substrate important for next-generation photovoltaic cells.