Sains Malaysiana 45(8)(2016): 1227–1234

Natural Dye Sensitizer in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

(Pemeka Pewarna Semula Jadi dalam Pekaan Pewarna Sel Suria)

NURAIN NAJIHAH ALIAS* & KHATIJAH AISHA YAACOB

School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering (SMMRE), Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 20 April 2015/Accepted: 25 November 2015

ABSTRACT

Blue-pea flower, turmeric, mulberries, brown rice, purple cabbage and Indian mulberry leave were successfully form on TiO₂ mesoporous film using immersion method to produce TiO₂ mesoporous photoanode for natural dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembly. The TiO₂ mesoporous films were formed after calcinations at 450?C for 30 min. The photoanodes were dipped in different types of natural dye for 24, 72 and 120 h. The properties of natural dye were investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis, the wavelength range of the natural dye studied in this research lays between 350 and 800 nm. The FTIR result of the natural dye shows the present of intermolecular H-bond, C=O stretching vibration, C-O-C stretching vibration, C=C bending and C-H bending which was due to the component of anthocyanin, carotenoids and chlorophyll. The characterization including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were carried out on the TiO2 mesoporous film. On the other hand, the conductivity of electrolyte for liquid electrolyte, gel electrolyte and solid electrolyte were also investigated. Gel electrolyte has the highest conductivity, 26.1 mS/cm while liquid electrolyte and solid electrolyte obtained 17.34 and 0.45 mS/cm, respectively. Finally, solar cells were prepared by sandwiching the TiO2 mesoporous photoanode with Platinum (Pt) counter electrode. The results showed short circuit current, open circuit current voltage, fill factor and efficiency for all samples during the present of light. The highest efficiency was obtained from Blue-pea sample that immersed for 120 h with 0.123% efficiency.

Keywords: DSSCs; natural dye sensitized solar cells; solar energy

ABSTRAK

Bunga telang, kunyit, malberi, beras perang, kubis ungu dan daun mengkudu telah melekat pada lapisan TiO₂ berliang meso dengan menggunakan kaedah rendaman bagi menghasilkan TiO₂ berliang meso sebagai fotoanod untuk pewarna semula jadi sebagai pemeka dalam pewarna sel solar berkepekaan (DSSCs). Lapisan TiO₂ berliang meso terbentuk selepas pengkalsinan pada suhu 450?C selama 30 min. Fotoanod dicelup dalam pewarna semula jadi selama 24, 72 dan 120 jam. Sifat pewarna semula jadi telah dicirikan oleh Ultra Violet Visible Spektrofotometer (UV-vis) dan spektroskopi Fourier infra merah (FTIR). Melalui UV-Vis spektroskopi, gelombang pewarna semula jadi yang diperoleh adalah antara 350 dan 800 nm. Hasil FTIR pewarna semula jadi menunjukkan terdapat ikatan H, C=O, C-O-C, C=C dan C-H yang disebabkan oleh komponen daripada pada antosianin, karotenoid dan klorofil. Medan pancaran mikroskop elektron imbasan (FESEM), tenaga serakan sinar-x (EDX) dan pembelauan sinar-x (XRD) telah dijalankan ke atas lapisan TiO₂ berliang meso. Konduktiviti elektrolit cecair, elektrolit gel dan elektrolit pepejal juga telah dikaji. Elektrolit gel mencatat konduktiviti tertinggi, 26.1 mS/cm manakala elektrolit cecair dan elektrolit pepejal memperoleh 17.34 dan 0.45 mS/cm. Fotoanod TiO₂ berliang meso dicantum dengan elektrod kaunter Platinum (Pt). Nilai yang ditunjukkan adalah semasa litar pintas, voltan litar terbuka, faktor pengisian dan peratus keberkesanan untuk semua sampel. Bunga telang yang telah direndam selama 120 jam telah mencatat peratus keberkesanan yang tertinggi iaitu 0.123%.

Kata kunci: DSSCs; pewarna semula jadi sel solar berkepekaan; tenaga solar

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*Corresponding author; email: ainalias@yahoo.com