Eco-friendly dye sensitized solar cell using natural dye with solid polymer electrolyte as hole transport material

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are placed in third generation of solar cells. DSSC have more benefits over silicon solar cells such as low fabrication cost and eco-friendliness. In the existing research work dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using natural dye extracted from some fruits as 'sensitizer'. The TiO2thin films were prepared on FTO coated glass substrate using doctor blade technique as photoanode. The fruits and plants dye extracted in ethanol was used as sensitizes. The standard polymer electrolyte with counter electrode of platinum was used and natural DSSCs were fabricated. The optical properties of FTO coated thin film and extracted dyes were studied using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. The extracted fruits and plants dye showed absorption up to 500nm wavelength of incident light. The fabricated solar cells were characterized for electrical properties through Keithley source meter which are current, fill factor, open circuit voltage was achieved. Results showed that fruits and plants dyes using in DSSCs can be the promising source as light harvester.