Grape pigment (malvidin-3-fructoside) as natural sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

TiO 2 nanocrystalline thin films have various applications, among them dye-sensitized solar cells are more promising and low-cost alternative to conventional inorganic photovoltaic devices. TiO 2 nanocrystalline thin films have been sensitized with the natural dye (malvidin-3-fructoside) extracted from grape fruits. The interaction between the semiconductor and the dye has been studied. The maximum absorption band of grape extract at 525 nm has been shifted to 545 nm after incorporation of the dye indicating interaction of the dye molecules with TiO 2. The grape extract has polyphenolic anthocyanin pigment (malvidin-3-fructoside), which has carboxylic and hydroxyl groups that can attach effectively to the surface of TiO 2 film. The dye-sensitized TiO 2-based solar cell sensitized using grape dye exhibited a J sc of 4.06 mA/cm 2 , V oc of 0.43 V, FF of 0.33 and efficiency of 0.55 %. Natural dyesensitized TiO 2 photo electrodes present the prospect to be used as an environment-friendly, low-cost alternative system.

Recent advances in anthocyanin dyes extracted from plants for dye sensitized solar cell

“…Grape pigment coloring (malvidin-3-fructoside) [121] was used as a sensitizer in DSSC, resulting in short-circuit current density (J sc ), open-circuit voltage (V oc ) and fill factor (FF) of 4.06 mA/cm 2 , 0.43 V and 0.33 respectively with a conversion efficiency of 0.55%.…”

“…In a DSSC, unlike conventional solar cells, semiconductors and electrolytes are used to transport electrons and holes respectively, and because of this, recombination chances in the cell are low. Upon illumination, the dye molecule adsorbed on TiO 2 films absorbs photons of wavelength corresponding to the energy difference between its highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) [8,21]. Numerous dyes extracted from different inorganic and organic sources are utilized as sensitizers [13,14,22].…”

Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO2/treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on Voc and Isc values

“…However, some reactions may occur and cause a significant decrease in the effectiveness of the DSSCs. They are the recombination of the electrons injected either with the oxidized sensitizer or with the oxidized redox couple on the surface of photoelectrode [2,4].…”

“…Their X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis data have been reported [16]. Based on that previous study, NH 4 OH-treated metakaolinite (TMK) has certain advantages over NK: (1) TMK has a BET specific surface area of 124.33 m 2 /g, 16 times greater than NK (7.65 m 2 /g). ( 2) It also has the highest Si/Al ratio (2.06), 2 times greater than NK (1.26).…”

Photocurrent generation by dye‐sensitized solar cells using natural pigments

“…Several strategies have being applied to achieve substantial efficiency gains [7]. One such strategy is manufacturing multifunctional cells, thermoelectric cells, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), or cells built with organic materials [8,9]. Applied Biochemistry Sensitized by natural coloring cells are third-generation solar cells.…”