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Photocurrent generation by dye‐sensitized solar cells using natural pigments
Author(s) -
ArmendárizMireles Eddie Nahúm,
RochaRangel Enrique,
CaballeroRico Frida,
RamírezdeLeón José Alberto,
Vázquez Manuel
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biotechnology and applied biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1470-8744
pISSN - 0885-4513
DOI - 10.1002/bab.1449
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , pigment , photocurrent , titanium dioxide , photovoltaic system , materials science , open circuit voltage , optoelectronics , solar cell , thermal , voltage , botany , chemistry , electrode , composite material , biology , electrolyte , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , physics , ecology , meteorology , engineering
The development of photovoltaic panels has improved the conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy. This paper deals with the electrical and thermal characteristics (voltage, current, and temperature) of photovoltaic solar cells sensitized with natural pigments (dye‐sensitized solar cell, DSSC) based on a titanium dioxide semiconductor. Several natural pigments (blackberry, beets, eggplant skin, spinach, flame tree flower, papaya leaf, and grass extracts) were evaluated to determine their sensitizing effect on titanium dioxide. The results showed the great potential of natural pigments for use in solar cells. The best results were obtained with the blackberry pigment, reaching a value of 7.1 mA current, open‐circuit voltage ( V oc ) of 0.72 V in 2 cm 2 , and fill factor (ff) of 0.51 in the DSSC. This performance is well above than that currently offers by actual cells.