Summary The purpose of this study is to fabricate DSSC which performs well from natural pigments by giving exposure to microwave irradiation in materials to increase pigment uptake. In this research, the microwave irradiation was applied in coating banana flower extract (Musa acuminata bract) on the electrode, to increase light absorption of anthocyanin pigment. It is expected that the device can absorb more solar energy. The banana flower extract was characterized using Ocean Optic Vis‐Nir USB 4000 to observe the optical properties. The irradiation treatment was carried out using Electrolux Microwave (EMM 2308X) at power 150 W. The DSSC samples were characterized using I‐V meter Nacrieble 101. The maximum absorbance of 1.55 a.u. is found for the mass fraction of 0.45. The microwave irradiated device has an efficiency of about 3.69×10−6%, whereas which is no microwave irradiation has a maximum efficiency of about 0.57%. It shows that microwave irradiation can improve DSSC performance. The banana flower extract is available as an alternative organic photosensitizer in the fabrication of DSSC.

One of the problems encountered in the making of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the efficiency still relatively small compared to the conventional solar cells made from silicon. In this study, microwave irradiation was used in the process of coating Musa Accuminata Bract extract, with the aim that more anthocyanin pigments absorbed in the work electrode. This anthocyanin can make more sun energy absorbed and enhances efficiency. The resulting Musa Acuminata Bract extract was characterized using Ocean Optic Vis-Nir USB 4000 to determine its optical properties and produce maximum absorbance of 1.7353 at mass fraction of 0.45. The irradiation process was carried out using Electrolux Microwave Oven (EMM 2308X) at 140 W. After the DSSC sandwich is arranged, the sample is characterized using an El-Kahfi 100 I-V meter to determine its electrical properties. DSSC without microwave irradiation has an efficiency of 0.000345%, while with microwave irradiation, it could yield efficiency of 7.26%. This proves that microwave irradiation can improve DSSC performance.