scholarly journals Optimizing a Simple Natural Dye Production Method for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Examples for Betalain (Bougainvillea and Beetroot Extracts) and Anthocyanin Dyes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2515 ◽  
Author(s):  
María José García-Salinas ◽  
María Jesús Ariza

We present a study about the sensitizers extracted from natural resources. This paper focuses on how to select, extract and characterize natural dyes, giving some guides to establish a protocol for the whole process of fabricating and using these dyes. The influence of the extraction solvent and method, and of parameters such as pH are analyzed. Also, dye precursor and dye extract stability have been studied, as well as how the dye adsorbs onto substrates and the effect of mixing or concentrating the extracts. Results concerning betalain pigments present in bougainvillea and beetroot extracts, and anthocyanins in eggplant extracts, analyzed by using UV-Vis spectrometry, are included. As an example of application, we report procedures intended to test and enhance the dye potential as a main component of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs mimic nature’s photosynthesis and have some advantages like an easy and low-cost fabrication procedure. Their efficiency depends on its design and fabrication process and also on the different components involved. Hence, optimizing each component is essential to achieve the best performance, and thus the dye used as a sensitizer is crucial. We fabricate cells by using a simple procedure: As the interest is focused on the sensitizer, the same consecutive steps are followed, varying only the dye extract. Among all the natural-dyes tested, beetroot extract reaches up to 0.47% cell efficiency, which is near the highest values found in literature for this pigment.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indriana Kartini ◽  
Adhi Dwi Hatmanto

This article will discuss natural dyes’ role, from colouring the cotton fabrics with some functionality to harvesting sunlight in the dye-sensitized solar cells. Natural dye colourants are identical to the low light- and wash-fastness. Therefore, an approach to improving the colourant’s physical properties is necessary. Colouring steps employing silica nanosol and chitosan will be presented. The first part will be these multifunctional natural dye coatings on cotton fabrics. Then, functionality such as hydrophobic surfaces natural dyed cotton fabrics will be discussed. Natural dyes are also potential for electronic application, such as solar cells. So, the second part will present natural dyes as the photosensitizers for solar cells. The dyes are adsorbed on a semiconductor oxide surface, such as TiO2 as the photoanode. Electrochemical study to explore natural dyes’ potential as sensitizer will be discussed, for example, natural dyes for Batik. Ideas in improving solar cell efficiency will be discussed by altering the photoanode’s morphology. The ideas to couple the natural dyes with an organic–inorganic hybrid of perovskite and carbon dots are then envisaged.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Ji-Hye Kim ◽  
Dong-Hyuk Kim ◽  
Ju-Hee So ◽  
Hyung-Jun Koo

Due to their low cost, facile fabrication, and high-power conversion efficiency (PCE), dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted much attention. Ruthenium (Ru) complex dyes and organic solvent-based electrolytes are typically used in high-efficiency DSSCs. However, Ru dyes are expensive and require a complex synthesis process. Organic solvents are toxic, environmentally hazardous, and explosive, and can cause leakage problems due to their low surface tension. This review summarizes and discusses previous works to replace them with natural dyes and water-based electrolytes to fabricate low-cost, safe, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly DSSCs. Although the performance of “eco-friendly DSSCs” remains less than 1%, continuous efforts to improve the PCE can accelerate the development of more practical devices, such as designing novel redox couples and photosensitizers, interfacial engineering of photoanodes and electrolytes, and biomimetic approaches inspired by natural systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7598
Author(s):  
Ruwaida Asyikin Abu Talip ◽  
Wan Zaireen Nisa Yahya ◽  
Mohamad Azmi Bustam

Exploration of renewable energy, such as solar energy, is imminent not only to cater to the escalating energy demand but also to address the uprising environmental issues due to heavy usage of non-renewable fossil fuel. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which are considered as the third-generation solar cells, have a huge potential to be commercialized due to their low cost, simplicity in fabrication, and promising photon-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency. Nevertheless, a high cell efficiency can only be achieved when an organic solvent is incorporated into the formulation of the electrolyte, which is prone to evaporation and leakage. As a result, DSSCs become unsuitable for long-run usage due to thermal instability in the electrolyte. The early intention of incorporating ionic liquids (ILs) into the electrolyte was to curb the abovementioned problem and to enable the DSSCs to function as a sustainable energy device. As such, this article briefly reviews how ILs have been incorporated into the electrolyte formulation and the extent of how the ILs can affect the cell efficiency in various electrolyte states. The role of the ILs in a range of electrolytes is also highlighted. This sheds light on the true purpose of introducing ILs into DSSC electrolyte, which is to enhance the ionicity of the electrolyte.


2020 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
PHITCHAPHORN KHAMMEE ◽  
YUWALEE UNPAPROM ◽  
UBONWAN SUBHASAEN ◽  
RAMESHPRABU RAMARAJ

Recently, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have concerned significant attention attributable to their material preparation process, architectural and environmental compatibility, also low cost and effective photoelectric conversion efficiency. Therefore, this study aimed to use potential plant materials for DSSC. This research presents the extraction of natural pigments from yellow cotton flowers (Cochlospermum regium). In addition, the natural pigments were revealed that outstanding advantages, including a wide absorption range (visible light), easy extraction method, safe, innocuous pigments, inexpensive, complete biodegradation and ecofriendly. Methanol was used as a solvent extraction for the yellow cotton flower. The chlorophylls and carotenoid pigments extractions were estimated by a UV-visible spectrometer. The chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoid yield were 0.719±0.061 µg/ml, 1.484±0.107 µg/ml and 7.743±0.141 µg/ml, respectively. Thus, this study results suggested that yellow cotton flowers containing reasonable amounts appealable in the DSSC production.


Nanoscale ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (23) ◽  
pp. 14433-14440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-qi Guo ◽  
Tian-zeng Jing ◽  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Xiao-bing Yang ◽  
Zhi-hao Yuan ◽  
...  

In this work, we report the synthesis of mesoporous Bi2S3 nanorods under hydrothermal conditions without additives, and investigated their catalytic activities as the CE in DSCs by I–V curves and tested conversion efficiency.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuancheng Qin ◽  
Qiang Peng

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to the possibility of low-cost conversion of photovoltaic energy. The DSSCs-based ruthenium complexes as sensitizers show high efficiency and excellent stability, implying potential practical applications. This review focuses on recent advances in design and preparation of efficient ruthenium sensitizers and their applications in DSSCs, including thiocyanate ruthenium sensitizers and thiocyanate-free ruthenium sensitizers.


Optik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 167331
Author(s):  
Shalini Singh ◽  
Ishwar Chandra Maurya ◽  
Shubham Sharma ◽  
Shiva Prakash Singh Kushwaha ◽  
Pankaj Srivastava ◽  
...  

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