Betalain pigments as natural photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells: the effect of dye pH on the photoelectric parameters

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were fabricated using red bougainvillea glabra flower dye extracts as natural dye sensitizers at three dye pH values of 1.23, 3.0, and 5.7. Water was used as dye-extracting solvent. DSSCs from dye extract of pH 3.0 had the highest photocurrent density J sc of 3.72 mA/cm 2 and fill factor FF of 0.59. While the DSSCs from dye sensitizer pHs of 1.23 and 5.7 had J sc of 1.13 and 2.27 mA/cm 2 , and fill factors of 0.43 and 0.61, respectively. The maximum powers P max of the DSSCs were 0.50, 1.64, and 0.94 mW/cm 2 for dye sensitizer pH of 1.2, 3.0, and 5.7, respectively.

Plasmonic effect of silver nanoparticles intercalated into mesoporous betalain-sensitized-TiO2 film electrodes on photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Absorption spectra of a dye reflect optical transition probability between the ground state, the excited state, and the solar energy range absorbed by the dye [13]. The comparative optical spectra of the pure betalain dye extract, betalain dye extract adsorbed into TiO 2 (TiO 2 /dye) electrode, TiO 2 /Ag NPs (one cycle)/dye, and TiO 2 /Ag NPs (two cycles)/dye are shown in Fig.…”

“…Betalain has been regarded by many researchers to be a most promising candidate of choice out of the three most exploited dye pigments from plant sources: chlorophylls, anthocyanins, and betalains [9]. Conversely to the anthocyanins, betalains possess essential functional groups (-COOH) to anchor better to the TiO 2 nanoparticles than the functional groups (-OH) present in anthocyanins [10][11][12][13]. Indeed, the interaction between TiO 2 film and carboxylic functions should bring a stronger electronic coupling and rapid forward and reverse electron transfer reactions [9].…”

An Investigation of pH Effects on the Properties of the Fabricated Banana Flower Extracts-based Organic Solar Cell

“…The production cost of silicon based-conventional solar cell is relatively high and it consumes more energy. This device has been attracting many researchers at last decade since the first report made by Gratzel dan coworkers 2 due to DCCS is produced at relatively low cost 1,3 , easy prepared and fabricated, simple design structure 4 , light, potentially applicable in flexible devices as if compared with conventional pn junction devices 5 , transparent module construction, better performance on wider tap, lower sensitivity to the angle of incidence and condition of darkness 6 , and has a high conversion efficiency 7 . Silicon basedconventional solar cell has achieved efficiency as high as 20% while highest organic solar cell efficiency ever achieved is 1,49% 8 .…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Natural Sensitizers for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The photosensitizing dye adsorbed on the nanocrystalline TiO2 semiconductor, absorbs light. The ejected electrons excite to the conduction band of the semiconductor leaving the oxidized dye molecules behind [3]. The electrons travel to the counter electrode through the external circuit to reduce the iodide ion of the electrolyte.…”

“…On the other hand natural dye is easy to obtain and the cost is very low [6]. Green plants are mostly rich in chlorophyll and red leaves are rich in anthocyanine [7] and the application of this kind of natural dye has been frequently investigated in many related studies [3,8,9].…”