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Synthesis of TiO 2 nanoparticles at low hydrothermal temperature and its performance for DSSC sensitized using natural dye extracted from Melastoma malabathricum L. seeds
Author(s) -
Sofyan Nofrijon,
Ridhova Aga,
Yuwono Akhmad H.,
Udhiarto Arief,
Fergus Jeffrey W.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4710
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , crystallite , materials science , hydrothermal circulation , nanoparticle , distilled water , transmission electron microscopy , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrolyte , chemistry , nanotechnology , chromatography , electrode , metallurgy , engineering
Summary Efficiency of a dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) device depends on its semiconductor layer and the sensitizing dye to absorb the light. This work seeks to obtain the best solvent for the natural dye extraction from Melastoma malabathricum L. seeds. The extracted dye is used as sensitizer on TiO 2 nanoparticles produced via hydrothermal but optimized at relatively low temperature. Infrared characterization of the extracted dyes showed differences in functional groups using different solvents, whereas ultraviolet visible examination of the dyes showed differences in intensity along the spectrum ranges of 600 to 400 nm with maximum absorption around 550 to 500 nm. Thermal analysis revealed that the natural dye should be stable around room temperature. Analysis on the synthesized TiO 2 nanoparticles showed that the average crystallite size reported in the previous work is consistent with crystallite sizes observed in the transmission electron microscope images. Photoactivity examination showed that the DSSC sensitized using natural dye extracted with ethanol containing 20% distilled water on TiO 2 synthesized at 150°C has an efficiency of 5.7%, whereas the one on commercial TiO 2 P25 Degussa has an efficiency of 3.0%. The DSSC device sensitized using commercial dye on TiO 2 synthesized at 150°C has an efficiency of 4.4%, whereas the one on TiO 2 P25 Degussa has an efficiency of 4.0%. This result is promising for further development of the DSSC device using TiO 2 nanoparticles synthesized at low hydrothermal temperature and sensitized with the natural dye.