Efficient natural dye sensitized solar cell from PVDF based polymer electrolyte filled with layered graphite

Abstract

Graphite nanopowder was synthesized by mechanical method using ball mill and used as filler in polymer electrolyte film based on Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for application in natural dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A simple solution cast technique was employed for the preparation of polymer electrolyte film with incorporation of different weight percent (1, 2 and 3) graphite filler along with propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate as plasticizers. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis was carried out to determine the crystallinity of the graphite nanopowder and its glass transition temperature. The film with 2 % weight showed the best ionic conductivity of about 5.63 × 10−3 S cm−1. The betacyanin dye from beetroot and chlorophyll dye from spinach leaves was evaluated for the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The carboxyl, hydroxyl and porphyrin groups present in these dyes helped in binding the dye with the photoanode of DSSCs.