Chlorophyll and Betalain as Light-Harvesting Pigments for Nanostructured TiO<sub>2</sub> Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Chlorophyll and betalain pigments extracted from scent leaves and flower of Bougainvillea Spectabilis were used as sensitizers for nanostructured TiO 2 based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and their perfomances were investigated systematically. The light harvesting pigments have shown absorption in broad range of the visible region of the solar spectrum and appreciable adsorption onto the semiconductor surface. The photovoltaic (PV) parameters such as short circuit current density (J SC ), open circuit voltage (V OC ), fill factor (FF), and overall solar conversion efficiency (η) were determined under 100 mAcm -2 . The DSSC fabricated with betalains pigment from Bougainvillea Spectabilis was found to be superior to that obtained from chlorophyll pigment of scent leave (Ocimum Gratissimum). The DSSC gave a short circuit current density of 0.093 mAcm -2 , open circuit voltage of 0.433 V, fill factor of 0.550, and an overall solar conversion efficiency of 0.040%. The cell sensitized with betalains pigment exhibits: (i) ~ 1.90 times improvement in conversion efficiency, (ii) ~ 2.11 times enhancement in photocurrent density, and (iii) ~ 1.38 times improvement in fill factor compared to the results obtained with the chlorophyll sensitized solar cell. The sensitization performance related to interaction between the dye and TiO 2 surface is discussed.

Co-sensitization aided efficiency enhancement in betanin–chlorophyll solar cell

“…Prior studies have been done where the performances of betanin and chlorophyll were compared which each other resulting in efficiencies of 0.04% and 0.02%, respectively, for each [30]. Co-sensitization of betanin and chlorophyll has previously been tested that resulted in a combined efficiency of 0.294% [31].…”

Pembuatan Prototipe Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Menggunakan Dye Bunga Pacar Air (Impatiens Balsamina L.) dan Bunga Kertas (Bougenville Spectabilis)

“…Penelitian sebelumnya dilakukan oleh Eli, Musa, & Ezra (2016) menggunakan dye yang berbeda menghasilkan efisiensi lebih baik pada Bougainvillea Spectabilis yang mengandung pigmen betalain dibandingkan dengan daun wangi yang mengandung pigmen klorofil (Eli, Musa, & Ezra, 2016). Syafinar et al (2015) menggunakan campuran blueberry dan buah naga dilarutkan pada pelarut yang berbeda menghasilkan absorbsi lebih lebar pada pelarut etanol yaitu 450-650 nm sedangkan pelarut air menghasilkan absorbsi 500-600 nm (Al-Alwani et al, 2016).…”

“…Gambar 3(a) menunjukkan bahwa spektrum serapan larutan dye bunga kertas, yaitu 300-400 nm dengan panjang gelombang maksimum 370 nm yang mengindikasikan adanya pigmen betalain. Hasil ini sesuai dengan panjang gelombang maksimum dari penelitian sebelumnya, yaitu 370 nm (Eli, D et al, 2016). Untuk spektrum serapan larutan dye bunga pacar air, yaitu 450-630 nm dengan panjang gelombang maksimum 515 nm sedangkan bunga campuran 450-630 dengan panjang gelombang maksimum 510 nm.…”

Silver Nanoparticles as Artificial Antennas for Enhanced Light-Harvesting and Charge Transfer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…50 g of the sample (Bougainvillea spectabilis) was grinded to small particles using a blender with 100 ml deionized water as extracting solvent. The solution was filtered to separate the solid residue from the pure liquid and the filtrate was used as the light harvesting pigment without further purification [6].…”

“…Natural dyes as photosensitizers for DSSCs are very attractive because they are of low cost, abundant in supply, and sustainable [2][3][4][5][6]. However, the efficiency of DSSC with natural pigments is still by a factor of 3-4 lower than with synthetic dyes [7].…”