Layered co-sensitization for enhancement of conversion efficiency of natural dye sensitized solar cells

作者：Kumara N T R N^*; Ekanayake Piyasiri; Lim Andery; Liew Louis Yu Chiang; Iskandar Mohammad; Ming Lim Chee; Senadeera G K R

来源：Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2013, 581: 186-191.

DOI：10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.07.039

• Co-sensitization
• DSSCs
• Ixora sp.
• Canarium odontophyllum
• Adsorption

This paper describes a double layered co-sensitization in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by using natural pigments from Ixora flower (Ixora sp. (Rubiaceae)) and the outer dark purple skin of 'Kembayau' (Canarium odontophyllum) fruit. UV-vis absorption data revealed that both dyes were anthocyanins. Co-sensitization was done by first adsorbing the dye from C. odontophyllum into TiO2 electrode by dipping, and then by removing adsorbed dye of the top layer of TiO2 using a de-sorption solution before the Ixora sp. dye was allowed to adsorb. Power conversion efficiency of the co-sensitized solar cell was 1.55%. The conversion efficiencies of DSSCs sensitized with Ixora sp., C. odontophyllum and the mixture of both dyes (1:1) were 0.96%, 0.59% and 1.13% respectively. The superior conversion efficiency achieved by layered co-sensitization is attributed to the high adsorption capacities of Ixora sp. and C. odontophyllum, and the homogeneous monolayer adsorption of Ixora sp. as revealed by Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms.

• 出版日期2013-12-25