Photogalvanicists have conventionally used complicated, multichambered, sophisticated, and very costly cell designs for solar electricity and storage. We authors have simplified cell design with encouraging electrical output as well.We authors have used a simple, cheap, and one-chambered cell design based on cylindrical glass tubes instead of the costly, conventional, and complex Hshaped glass tube-based cell fabrication design. The study has been done under similar electrolytic and illuminating conditions for different cell designs based on various blackened H-shaped glass tubes of the different diffusion lengths, nonblackened simple glass boiling tube, blackened simple glass boiling tube, and simple noncoated glass beakers. Nonblackened glass tube-based cell design has shown very good electrical output, that is, power 439 μW, current 2100 μA, potential 1045 mV, efficiency 6.1%, and storage capacity 130 minutes. Under similar chemical and illuminating conditions, the electrical output of cells fabricated of the simple glass tube is as good as that of the conventional cells made from the complex H-shaped glass tube. Furthermore, the cell design based on a simple cylindrical glass tube is three-edged more advantageous (in terms of the cost, electrical output, and ease of fabrication) over all other cell designs reported so far.

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The photogalvanic (PG) cells involve a change in the electrode potential by photochemical processes along with the diffusion of ionic species through the bulk electrolyte. The PG cells have used so far the complex H‐shaped cell design, heavy sensitizer molecules with low diffusivity, and low photo‐stability. All these factors are not conducive to the fabrication of cheap cells with good electrical output. To address all these concerns, the tropaeline‐O dye photosensitizer (a low molecular weight molecule with higher diffusion and higher photo‐stability) has been exploited with diffusion‐friendly low cost and a simple transparent cylindrical glass tube. The optimum values of the cell's electrical parameters are:  potential 998 mV, current 3200 µA, and power 829.5 µW, and it is quite similar at all illumination window sizes.

Summary The technology to harness solar power has been evolving continuously with a recent focus on simultaneous power storage as well. Photogalvanic (PG) cell is a promising technology for simultaneous solar power and storage. The nature of the sensitizer, reductant, surfactant, and electrodes are the key factor determining the efficiency, stability, and power storage capacity of the PG cells. The use of a more stable dye with good diffusivity and conductivity realized through the most suitable surfactant has evaded the attention of researchers. Therefore, in the present study, the photogalvanics of the stable Quinoline Yellow (QY) dye photosensitizer in the presence of the Dodecyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (DTAB) surfactant, and Cellobiose reductant at an elevated pH has been studied for solar energy conversion and storage. The entirely novel and new photogalvanic system has shown abruptly enhanced electrical performance of the PG cell as potential 900 mV, current 10 000 μA, and power 989 μW. Encouraging photogalvanics may be attributed primarily to the greater QY dye‐DTAB surfactant interaction enhanced dye solubility, stability, and diffusion through the electrolyte. Spectrometric and conductometric study of the electrolyte has validated good photostability and conductivity of the electrolyte solution. Based on published literature and observed facts, a most plausible mechanism for the photogeneration of the current and power storage capacity has also been proposed. The present research does not introduce any new mechanism for the photo‐generation of the current, but a new and novel cell fabrication design with greatly enhanced electrical output in comparison to that in earlier studies. Novelty statement The cationic Dodecyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide surfactant and Quinoline Yellow (QY) anionic dye sensitizer has been exploited in the presence of Cellobiose reductant for enhanced dipole‐dipole interactions for further enhancing the photogalvanics. The hypsochromic and hypochromic shift of main band of QY in electrolyte may be attributed to the QY‐DTAB complex formation due to interaction between the anionic QY dye and cationic DTAB surfactant. The present study shows abruptly enhanced electrical output (potential 900 mV, current 10 000 μA, power 989 μW).