In this communication, we report a greener microwave method for synthesizing Ag/Ti/Zn trimetallic nanoparticles and carbon quantum dots nanocomposites (Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs NCs). The morphology, topography, and size of the Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs nanocomposites were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The optical properties of the as-synthesized Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs NCs were examined using UV–Vis spectroscopy and bandgap analysis. Finally, the Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs NCs were fabricated by microwave-assisted greener synthesis, which was used as a photosensitizer, the copper plate as a counter electrode, and polysulfide as an electrolyte was assembled into the solar cell. The natural pigments extracted from the fruit of Solanum lycopersicium extract were used in Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs NCs based solar cells. The as-fabricated solar cell's conversion efficiency was 5.47% with a Voc of 0.74 V, Jsc of 12.1 mA/cm2, and an FF of 0.60. Thus, this study highlights that the use of Ag/Ti/Zn TNPs and CQDs NCs has the great potential to be used as a photosensitizer.
Carbon quantum dots interfacial modified graphene/silicon Schottky barrier solar cell
