Different natural dye extracts have been prepared and used as sensitizers in the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These dyes have been extracted from both fresh and dried raw materials. The absorption spectra of these dyes have been investigated by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. DSSCs were assembled using TiO2 and ZnO nanostructured, mesoporous films. Photovoltaic parameters such as short circuit current density Jsc, open circuit voltage Voc, fill factor FF, and overall conversion efficiency η for the fabricated cells were determined under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The immersion time of the nanocrystalline-TiO2 electrode in spinach extract and the temperature at which this process occurs were optimized. The optimal dying temperature is found to be 60 °C and the efficiency of the DSSC is found to saturate to 0.29% after 12 hr of soaking in the dye solution.

In this work, we investigate the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on natural dyes extracted from ten different plant seeds. The extracts were characterized by UV-VIS absorption spectra. The solar cells were assembled using a TiO₂ mesoporous film on FTO-coated glass. The photovoltaic properties of the DSSCs were studied under an incident irradiation of 100 mW/cm². The best performance was for the DSSC sensitized with Eruca sativa with a solar energy conversion efficiency of 0.725%. Moreover, the validity of these extracts was compared using two types of semiconductor layers (TiO₂ and ZnO), and finally the photovoltaic properties of one of these dyes were studied using different types of electrolytes.

Abstract:Five aldimine derivatives were prepared by condensation of the appropriate amine with salicylaldehyde (m1-m4) and 4-aminobenzoic acid with 2-thiophene carboxaldehyde (m5). A molar ratio of 1:1 was used and the mixture was refluxed in ethanol for 2 h to obtain the corresponding aldimine derivative. These derivatives were used as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best performance was obtained for the DSSC sensitized with 2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)benzoic acid, for which a short-circuit current of 2.86 mA/cm2 , an open-circuit voltage of 0.562 V, and an efficiency of 0.575% were obtained.

The application of natural dyes extracted from plant seeds in the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been explored. Ten dyes were extracted from different plant seeds and used as sensitizers for DSSCs. The dyes were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. DSSCs were prepared using TiO 2 and ZnO nanostructured mesoporous films. The highest conversion efficiency of 0.875 % was obtained with an allium cepa (onion) extract-sensitized TiO 2 solar cell. The process of TiO 2 -film sintering was studied and it was found that the sintering procedure significantly affects the response of the cell. The short circuit current of the DSSC was found to be considerably enhanced when the TiO 2 semiconducting layer was sintered gradually.

In this paper, we used the extracts of three fresh plant seeds as photosensitizers for DSSCs based on TiO 2 nanopowder as a semiconducting material. Ethanol was used to extract the dyes from the seeds. The fill factors of the cells sensitized with the seeds of Raphanus raphanistrum, Lepidium sativum and Dianthus barbatus were 0.45, 0.40, and 0.48, respectively, whereas the efficiencies were 0.05, 0.03, and 0.15. The performance of the DSSC sensitized with Dianthus barbatus was investigated at various pH values of the dye solution and found to have a considerable effect of the cell efficiency.