Performance Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using a Natural Sensitizer

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on natural sensitizers have become a topic of significant research because of their urgency and importance in the energy conversion field and the following advantages: ease of fabrication, low-cost solar cell, and usage of nontoxic materials. In this study, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of photoenergy 2017-01, Vol.2017 (2017), p.1-5
Main Authors: Suyitno, Suyitno, Widhiyanuriyawan, Denny, Soeparman, Sudjito, Arifin, Zainal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol
Chlorophyll
Chlorophylls
Computing time
Dyes
Efficiency
Electrodes
Electrolytes
Ethanol
Extinction
Fourier transforms
Mechanical engineering
Nanostructure
Papayas
Photovoltaic cells
Semiconductors
Solar cells
Spectrum analysis
Titanium dioxide
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Summary:Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on natural sensitizers have become a topic of significant research because of their urgency and importance in the energy conversion field and the following advantages: ease of fabrication, low-cost solar cell, and usage of nontoxic materials. In this study, the chlorophyll extracted from papaya leaves was used as a natural sensitizer. Dye molecules were adsorbed by TiO2 nanoparticle surfaces when submerged in the dye solution for 24 h. The concentration of the dye solution influences both the amount of dye loading and the DSSC performance. The amount of adsorbed dye molecules by TiO2 nanoparticle was calculated using a desorption method. As the concentration of dye solution was increased, the dye loading capacity and power conversion efficiency increased. Above 90 mM dye solution concentration, however, the DSSC efficiency decreased because dye precipitated on the TiO2 nanostructure. These characteristics of DSSCs were analyzed under the irradiation of 100 mW/cm2. The best performance of DSSCs was obtained at 90 mM dye solution, with the values of Voc, Jsc, FF, and efficiency of DSSCs being 0.561 V, 0.402 mA/cm2, 41.65%, and 0.094%, respectively.
ISSN:1110-662X
1687-529X
DOI:10.1155/2017/2704864