TiO2 Based Solar Cell with Jacaranda Mimosifolia, Beta Vulgaris, and Carissa Ovata Sensitizers

Abstract

Cheap dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using TiO₂ nanoparticles and Natural dyes from Jacaranda Mimosifolia, Beta vulgaris, and Carissa ovata. Natural dyes are environmentally and economically better than ruthenium-based dyes because they are nontoxic and cheap. In this paper Jacaranda Mimosifolia and Carissa ovate sanitizers were reported for the first time, and the photoelectrochemical properties of these sensitizers were analyzed. Based on TiO₂ nanoparticles, and quasi solid state electrolyte, Carissa ovate and Jacaranda Mimosifolia sensitizers extracted using H₂O shows better rectification with Fillfactor (FF)=66%, and 69% and with efficiency of 0.22% and 0.20% respectively were obtained, under Air Mass (AM) 1.5 irradiation. The incident photon to current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) were measured and found that all sensitizer’s shows good conversion of photons to current in the visible region.

Keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cell,  Nanoparticles, , photovoltaic, sensitizer