Stability Modification of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells by Ruthenium Dyes Embedded on Eggshell Membranes

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been one of the most promising technologies to convert sunlight into electricity repeatedly based on the mechanism that dyes inject/accept electron into the metal oxides/from redox mediator. Specifically, N719 ([RuL2(NCS)2], L: 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine), immobilized on TiO2 through the interaction between its ligands (-COO− and -NCS) and the oxygen on the TiO2 surface, has been used as a conventional DSSC dye with high voltage. Nevertheless, -NCS ligands have been removed from Ru2+ in N719 due to UV irradiation and exchanged with H2O or OH− in electrolyte, resulting in voltage drop. In this work, we developed the first DSSC using the N719-adsorbed Eggshell (ESM)-TiO2 composite to maintain the immobilization of N719 on TiO2 through electrostatic interaction between the protein of ESM and N719. The DSSC using the composite maintained the voltage even after 12 h light irradiation, although the voltage of DSSC without ESM dropped drastically. It means that the ESM contributed to stable photovoltaic performances of DSSCs through the protection of NCS ligands of N719.

Fabrication of Functional Gypsum Boards Using Waste Eggshells to Prevent Sick Building Syndrome

“…Additionally, chemical applications of eggshells in supercapacitors [7], rechargeable batteries [8], adsorbent materials for gold ions in electroplating waste [9], dyes [10], and the elimination of heavy atoms from dilute waste solutions [11] have been reported. Recently, modifying the stability of dye-sensitized solar cells using ruthenium dyes embedded in eggshell membranes [12] and generating power using a direct methanol fuel cell with the protein components of eggshell membranes as proton conductors [13,14] were reported. However, for continued advancement in the field of eggshell recycling, developing materials wherein eggshells and eggshell membranes exhibit effective functions that have not yet been reported is necessary.…”