Fabrication of DSSC based on Capsicum annuum and Tamarindus indica plant seeds extract as natural photosensitizers

• Published in: Solar energy 2023-06, Vol.257, p.314-323
• Main Authors: Sarwar, Nasim, Shahzad, Monas, Ghaffar, Rabia, Javed, Khalid, Munam, Mahroze, Pervez, Aneel, Ghaffar, Abdul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DSSC; Graphite & PEDOT.PSS; J-V curves; Natural dyes; ZnO-based films
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2023.04.039

•Sustainable green sources for solar energy harvesting.•Capsicum annuum and Tamarindus indica as natural dyes for photosensitization.•Twelve different DSSCs configurations consist of ZnO films, electrodes, and natural dye sensitizers.•Choices of dye, electrode material, and nanoparticle film provide rich options to calculate different DSSC configurations' efficiencies.•DSSC based on Capsicum annuum (as a dye), zinc oxide (as a charge transporter), and graphite as an electrode have an efficiency of 1.65%. Twelve dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using Capsicum annuum and Tamarindus indica seeds extract as natural photosensitizing dyes. Zinc oxide-based three different films were employed as charge transporters, whereas graphite and PEDOT:PSS were adopted as electrode materials. The optical character of natural dyes and zinc oxide-based layers was obtained by UV–vis spectroscopy. Structural information was achieved by X-ray diffraction and modes of vibrations were obtained by Fourier Transform IR spectroscopy. Different schemes of DSSCs were considered by choosing from metal oxide films, seed extract, and electrode material. J-V curves recorded for all the DSSCs-configurations revealed that the maximum power conversion efficiency of 1.65% was found in the case of DSSC which comprised Capsicum annuum (dye), zinc oxide, and graphite as an electrode. Minimum 0.43% efficiency was obtained for the DSSC based on Capsicum annuum as a dye, Al-doped zinc oxide film, and PEDOT:PSS as an electrode. This study is a way forward to using recyclable natural resources for sustainable and economical solar power conversion devices.