PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN MATERIAL PLASMONIK PERAK (Ag) TERHADAP SIFAT FISIS NANOROD ZnODENGAN METODE SEED-MEDIATED HYDROTHERMAL

Abstract

ZnOnanorods with addition of plasmonic materials of silver (Ag) have successfully been grown onto
Flourine Tin Oxide (FTO) substrates by using seed-mediated hydrothermal method though two
steps: seeding and growing processes. Ag was added to the ZnOnanorods after finishing the
ZnOnanorods growth process at a temperature of 90°C for 8 hours. Effect of Ag to the physical
properties was evaluated by using the characterization techniques of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD),
Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM)-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), and UVVis
spectroscopy. XRD pattern of the sample did not show special diffraction peak of Ag. FESEM
photograph confirmed that the Ag was substituted to the ZnOnanorods lattice. The presence of Ag in
the ZnOnanorodsaffected tobroken a part of the surface of ZnOnanorods, vary the diameter size of
the ZnOnanorods and vertical orientation of ZnO array was not formed perfectly. In addition, the
presence of Ag in the ZnOnanorods was confirmed by EDX spectrum of sample that observed 0.2%
of Ag-weight percentage. The addition of Ag to the ZnOnanorods positively affected to optical
properties of ZnO, as absorption spectrum of sample become wider, ranked from UV to visible. It
was concluded that addition of Ag to the ZnOnanorods active material of DSSC can increase the
efficiency of the cell significantly.