Asphaltene as light-harvesting material in dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

In this study asphaltene, waste hydrocarbons, and problematic constituent present in heavy oil have been investigated for its use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It presents the first asphaltene (DSSCs), in which light to electricity conversion efficiency has improved from 0 % to 1.8 %. Four natural asphaltene portions were extracted and used as light absorbers in TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cell. The photovoltaic performance of the cells were analyzed by determining the various I–V cell parameters such as open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill factor, and series resistance. The overall energy conversion efficiency was also measured to correlate the effect of the different asphaltene portions as well as concentration on the significant improvement of the solar cell parameters. The sensitization of TiO2 electrode with H-E Asph.Fr3 asphaltene portion has resulted in a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 1.8 % of the solar cell. In particular, a maximum photocurrent density and solar conversion efficiency of 16.9 mA/cm2 and 1.8 % have been obtained, respectively. A strategy to minimize series resistance and improve photocurrent as well as open-circuit voltage is also studied. Purifying asphaltene, using RTV mask, and employing the TiO2 blocking layer as well as UV–O3 treatment have shown to improve the performance of asphaltene DSSCs.