Dye-sensitized solar cells with natural dyes extracted from achiote seeds

作者：Gomez Ortiz N M; Vazquez Maldonado I A; Perez Espadas A R; Mena Rejon G J; Azamar Barrios J A; Oskam G^*

来源：Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2010, 94(1): 40-44.

DOI：10.1016/j.solmat.2009.05.013

• Dye-sensitized solar cells
• Natural dyes
• Carotene
• TiO(2)
• ZnO
• Bixin

We have explored the application of natural dyes extracted from the seeds of the achiote shrub (Bixa orellana L.) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The main pigments are bixin and norbixin, which were obtained by separation and purification from the dark-red extract (annatto). The dyes were characterized using (1)H-NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Solar cells were prepared using TiO(2) and ZnO nanostructured, mesoporous films and the annatto, bixin, and norbixin as sensitizers. The best results were obtained with bixin-sensitized TiO(2) solar cells with efficiencies of up to 0.53%, illustrating the importance of purification of dyes from natural extracts.

• 出版日期2010-1