Green synthesis of silver/zinc oxide plasmonic nanocomposites using Moringa oleifera: A dual-function strategy for photocatalysis and dye-sensitized solar cell performance

Chemical methods are the primary techniques for large-scale nanomaterial synthesis, offering both environmental and energy benefits; however, these methods have negative impacts on the environment. To circumvent this, ecofriendly approach produces nanoparticles that effectively degrade dyes under light exposure also show promise in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A sustainable green synthesis of plasmonic silver nanoparticles decorated zinc nanocomposite (Ag@ZnO PNC) by Moringa oleifera leaf extract as both reducing and capping agents by simple solution method. Prepared plasmonic material was characterized using advanced instrumentation techniques. The photocatalytic performance of green synthesized plasmonic Ag@ZnO PNC was tested the degradation of methylene blue under direct sunlight irradiation. The plasmonic Ag@ZnO PNC improved better photocatalytic with 99.33% because of higher amount of ● OH production verified by terephthalic acid experiment. Likewise, dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with Ag@ZnO NC photoanode exhibited higher energy conversion of efficiency (PCE) of 1.76%, which is ∼33% higher over the PCE of DSSC with pure ZnO (1.18%), which is attributed to the incorporation of Ag, which acts as electron sink and offered visible light extensions.