Photoelectric Characterization of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Natural Dye from Pawpaw Leaf and Flame Tree Flower as Sensitizers — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Photoelectric Characterization of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Natural Dye from Pawpaw Leaf and Flame Tree Flower as Sensitizers
Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
,
Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
,
Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
,
Energy Research Centre, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
,
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
1 Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
2 Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
3 Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
4 Energy Research Centre, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
5 Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
Natural dyes from flame tree flower, Pawpaw leaf and their mixtures were used as sensitizers to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The photoelectrochemical performance of the Flame tree flower dye extract showed an open-circuit voltage (V OC ) of 0.50 V, short-circuit current density (J SC ) of 0.668 mA/cm 2 , a fill factor (FF) of 0.588 and a conversion efficiency of 0.20%. The conversion efficiency of the DSSCs prepared by pawpaw leaf extract was 0.20%, with V OC of 0.50 V; short-circuit current density, J SC of 0.649 mA/cm 2 and FF of 0.605. The conversion efficiency for the flame tree flower and pawpaw leaf dye mixture was 0.27%, with V OC of 0.518 V, J SC of 0.744 mA/cm 2 and FF of 0.69. Although the conversion efficiencies, Jsc and the Voc of the prepared dye cells were lower than the respective 1.185%, 7.49 mA/cm 2 and 0.64V reported for ruthenium, their fill factors (FF) were higher than that of ruthenium (0.497). It was also observed that both the short-circuit current density and the fill factors of the cells were enhanced using mixed dye.
KeywordsDye-Sensitized Solar CellsFlame Tree FlowerPawpaw LeafDye CocktailsNatural Dyes
B. O’Regan and M. Gratzel, “A Low-Cost, High Efficiency Solar Cell Based on Dye-Sensitized Colloidal TiO2 Film,” Nature, Vol. 353, No. 6346, 1991, pp. 737-740. doi:10.1038/353737a0
J. Bisquert, J. García-Canadas, I. Mora-Seró and E. Palomares, “Comparative Analysis of Photovoltaic Principles Governing Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and p-n Junctions,” Proceedings of the SPIE, San Diego, 07 August 2003, pp. 49-59. doi:10.1117/12.506907
S. Caramori, V. Cristino, R. Boaretto, R. Argazzi, C. A. Bignozzi and A. D. Carlo, “New Components for DyeSensitized Solar Cells,” International Journal of Photoenergy, Vol. 2010, 2010, Article ID: 458614. doi:10.1155/2010/458614
M. Gratzel, “Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell”, Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews, Vol. 4, No. 2. 2003, pp. 145-153. doi:10.1016/S1389-5567(03)00026-1
C. Bauer, G. Boschloo, E. Mukhtar and A. Hagfeldt, “Electron Injection and Recombination in Ru(dcbpy)2(NCS)2 Sensitized Nanostructured ZnO,” Journal of Phyical Chemistry B, Vol. 105, No. 24, 2001, pp. 5585-5588. dx.doi:10.1021/jp004121x
M. Quintana, T. Edvinsson, A. Hagfeldt and G. J. Boschloo, “Comparison of Dye-Sensitized ZnO and TiO2 Solar Cells: Studies of Charge Transport and Carrier Lifetime,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 111, No. 2, 2007, pp. 1035-1041. dx.doi:10.1021/jp065948f
M. K. Nazeeruddin, P. Pechy, T. Renouard, S. M. Zakeeruddin, R. Humphry-Baker, P. Comte, P. Liska, L. Cevey, E. Costa, V. Shklover, L. Spiccia, G. B. Deacon, C. A. Bignozzi and M. Gratzel, “Engineering of Efficient Panchromatic Sensitizers for Nanocrystalline TiO2-Based Solar Cells,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 123, No. 8, 2001, pp. 1613-1624. doi:10.1021/ja003299u
S. Hao, J. Wu, Y. Huang and J. Lin, “Natural Dyes as Photosensitizers for DyeSensitized Solar Cell”, Solar Energy, Vol. 80, No. 2, 2006, pp. 209-214. doi:10.1016/j.solener.2005.05.009
H. Zhu, H. Zeng, V. Subramanian, C. Masarapu, K. H. Hung and B. Wei, “Anthocyanin-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Carbon Nanotube Films as Counter Electrodes,” Nanotechnology, Vol. 19, No. 46, 2008, Article ID: 465204. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/19/46/465204
K. Hara, Y. Dan-Oh, C. Kasada and H. Arakawa, “Effects of Additives on the Photovoltaic Performance of Coumarin-Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline TiO Solar Cells,” Langmuir, Vol. 20, No. 10, 2004, pp. 4205-4210. doi:10.1021/la0357615
S. Ito, S. M. Zakeeruddin, R. Humphry-Baker, P. Liska, R. Charvet, P. Comte, Md. K. Nazeeruddin, P. Pechy, M. Takata, H. Miura, S. Uchida and M. Gratzel, “High Efficiency Organic-Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Controlled by Nanocrystalline TiO2 Electrode Thickness”, Advanced Matererials, Vol. 18, No. 9, 2006, pp. 1202-1205. doi:10.1002/adma.200502540
S. Kim, J.K. Lee, S. O. Kang, J. J. Ko, J. H. Yum, S. Fantacci, F. De Angelis, D. Di Censo, M. K. Nazeeruddin and M. Gratzel, “Molecular Engineering of Organic Sensitizers for Solar Cell Applications,” Journal of American Chemical Society, Vol. 128, No. 51, 2006, pp. 16701-16707. doi:10.1021/ja066376f
K. Wongcharee, V. Meeyoo and S. Chavadej, “Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Using Natural Dyes Extracted from Rosella and Blue Pea Flowers,” Solar Energy Material Solar Cells, Vol. 91, No. 7, 2007, pp. 566-571. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2006.11.005
E. Yamazaki, M. Murayama, N. Nishikawa, N. Hashimoto, M. Shoyama and O. Kurita, “Utilization of Natural Carotenoids as Photosensitizers for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells”, Solar Energy, Vol. 81, No. 4, 2007, pp. 512-516. doi:10.1016/j.solener.2006.08.003
M. S. Roy, P. Balraju, M. Kumar and G. D. Sharma, “Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on Rose Bengal Dye and Nanocrystalline TiO,” Solar Energy Material Solar Cells, Vol. 92, No. 8, 2008, pp. 909-913. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2008.02.022
G. Calogero and G. D. Marco, “Red Sicilian Orange and Purple Eggplant Fruits as Natural Sensitizers for DyeSensitized Solar Cells,” Solar Energy Material Solar Cell, Vol. 92, No. 11, 2008, pp. 1341-1346. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2008.05.007
K. Tennakone, G. R. R. A. Kumara, A. R. Kumarasinghe, P. M. Sirimanne and K. G. U. Wijayantha, “Efficient Photosensitization of Nanocrystalline TiO2 Films by Tannins and Related Phenolic Substances”, Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry, Vol. 94, No. 2-3, 1996, pp. 217-220. doi:10.1016/1010-6030(95)04222-9
D. Zhang, S. M. Lanier, J. A. Downing, J. L. Avent, J. Lumc and J. L. McHale, “Betalain Pigments for DyeSensitized Solar Cells,” Journal of Photochemistry Photobiology A: Chemistry, Vol. 195, No. 1, 2008, pp. 72-80. doi:10.1016/j.jphotochem.2007.07.038
M. Rossetto, P. Vanzani, F. Mattivi, M. Lunelli, M. Scarpa and A. Rigo, “Synergistic Antioxidant Effect of Catechin and Malvidin 3-Glucoside on Free Radical-Initiated Peroxidation of Linoleic Acid in Micelles”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 408, No. 2, pp. 239-245. doi:10.1016/S0003-9861(02)00561-1
IPIF, “Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry: Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk,” 2004. http://www.hear.org/pier/species
A. Felix, F. L. Yves, M. Emmanuelle, L. Paul, A. Augustin, A. N. Georges and M. G. Emile, “Anthocyanin Characterization of Pilot Plant Water Extracts of Delonix regia Flowers,” Molecules, Vol. 13, No. 6, 2008, pp. 1238-1245. doi:10.3390/molecules13061238
D. Gross, “Papaya: A Tantalising Taste of the Tropics. Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer information, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension,” 2003. www.papayamaricopa-hort@ag.arizo.edu
J. F. Morton. “Papaya Fruits of Warm Climates (Miami),” 1987. www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/papaya_ars.html
A. S. Polo and N. Y. M. Iha, “Blue Sensitizers for Solar Cells: Natural Dyes from Calafate and Jaboticaba,” Solar Energy Material Solar Cell, Vol. 90, No. 13, 2006, pp. 1936-1944. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2006.02.006
K. Hara, T. Horiguchi, T. Kinoshita, K. Sayama, H. Sugihara and H. Arakawa, “Highly Efficient Photon-to-Electron Conversion with Mercurochrome-Sensitized Nanoporous Oxide Semiconductor Solar Cells,” Solar Energy Material and Solar Cells, Vol. 64, No. 2, 2000, pp. 115134. doi:10.1016/S0927-0248(00)00065-9
B. Pradhan, S. K. Batabyal, A. J. Pal, “Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanowire Arrays in Rose Bengal-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 91, No. 9, 2007, pp. 769-773. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2007.01.006
H. Chang and Y. Lo, “Pomegranate Leaves and Mulberry Fruit as Natural Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” Solar Energy, Vol. 84, No. 10, 2010, pp. 18331837. doi:10.1016/j.solener.2010.07.009
A. O. T. Patrocinio, S. K. Mizoguchi, L. G. Paterno, C. G. Garcia and N. Y. M. Iha, “Efficient and Low Cost Devices for Solar Energy Conversion: Efficiency and Stability of Some Natural-Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells”, Synthetic Metals. Vol. 159, No. 21-22, 2009, pp. 2342-2344. doi:10.1016/j.synthmet.2009.08.027