Natural pigment sensitized solar cells based on ZnO-TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposite in quasi-solid state electrolyte system

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Nanocomposites of Zn-Ti-Fe oxide using zinc as a host with different ratios of precursor salts were prepared by co-precipitation method to use as semiconductors for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The assynthesized nanocomposites were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. DSSCs based on the new semiconductors and di-tetrabutylammoniumcis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)-ruthenium(II) (N719) dye has been constructed and characterized. Stability towards dissolution of deposited films of semiconductors in the acidic dye and conversion efficiency was obtained in the order of: ZnO(100%) <ZnO(70%)-TiO2(30%) <ZnO(70%)-Fe2O3(30%) <ZnO(60%)-TiO2(20%)-Fe2O3(20%). Natural pigments were also extracted using ethanol and water as solvents from flowers of Guizotia scabra and Salvia leucantha plants. From UV-Vis spectra analysis all ethanol extracts of natural sensitizers absorb in the visible region. DSSCs were constructed using the natural pigments as sensitizers. The following best device parameter was achieved by the ethanol extract of Salvia leucantha and ZnO-TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposite semiconductor. When the potential is scanned: a Voc of 280 mV, Jsc of 0.01761 mAcm -2 at light intensity of 100 mWcm -2 were obtained; the maximum IPCE % was 1.7 and 25.7 for the N719 dye and Salvia luecantha, respectively.

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of Mn2O3/Al2O3/Fe2O3 nanocomposite for degradation of malachite green

“…The amount of each metal in the three different composites is in good agreement with the theoretical composition. where, k is constant (about 0.9), λ is the wavelength (0.15405 nm), β is the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the diffraction line and θ is the diffraction angle [15]. From the XRD data ( Table 2) we see that the as-prepared sample is nanosized.…”

Recent Progress, Advancements, and Efficiency Improvement Techniques of Natural Plant Pigment‐Based Photosensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The corresponding V OC values for the grape-TiO 2 , orange- 28 Journal of Nanomaterials TiO 2 , and pineapple-TiO 2 photoelectrodes were found to be 0.628, 0.626, and 0.576 mV, respectively. Moreover, reports show that ZnO-TiO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites were synthesized and used as an alternative photoelectrode in the presence of ethanol-extracted Guizotia scabra and Salvia leucanta flower sensitizers [130]. It has been found that the obtained conversion for the ethanol extracts of Guizotia scabra and Salvia leucantha were estimated at 0.0013% and 0.0017%, respectively.…”

Synthesis of CuO-NPS by simple wet chemical method using various dicarboxylic acid salts as precursors: Spectral characterization and in-vitro biological evaluation

“…Copper oxide nanomaterials have been developed substantially in recent years due to its low cost fabrication and good electrochemical properties. Copper oxides NPs are used for gas sensors [4], photovoltaic solar cell [5,6], photo electrochemical cell [7,8] and electro-chromic coatings [9].…”