Natural Dyes as Photosensitizers for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were assembled using Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as a photoelectrode and natural dyes extracted from eight natural plants as photosensitizers. The structural properties of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were studied using XRD, SEM and TEM characterizations. P...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hatem S. El-Ghamri, Sofyan A. Taya, Taher M. El-Agez, Amal M. Al-Kahlout, Naji Al Dahoudi, Monzir S. Abdel-Latif
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sumy State University 2015-10-01
Series:Журнал нано- та електронної фізики
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Online Access:http://jnep.sumdu.edu.ua/download/numbers/2015/3/articles/jnep_2015_V7_03001.pdf
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Summary:Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were assembled using Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as a photoelectrode and natural dyes extracted from eight natural plants as photosensitizers. The structural properties of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were studied using XRD, SEM and TEM characterizations. Photovoltaic parameters such as short circuit current density Jsc, open circuit voltage Voc, fill factor FF, and overall conversion efficiency η for the fabricated cells were determined under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. It was found that the DSSC fabricated with the extracted safflower dye as a sensitizer showed the best performance. Also, its performance increased with increasing the sintering temperature of the semiconductor electrode with highest performance at 400 °C. Moreover, it was found that a semiconductor electrode of 7.5 μm thickness yielded the highest response.
ISSN:2077-6772