期刊名称：International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management
电子版ISSN：2395-5252
出版年度：2019
卷号：1
期号：1
页码：34-40
语种：English
出版社：IJAEM JOURNAL
摘要：The need for the alternative source of green energy is very high in the current developing world and one of the promising sources is Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). DSSCs working principle is a mimic of photosynthesis taking place in plants. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll (coloring pigment) absorbs the incident light energy and converts it to chemical energy. Similarly, in DSSCs dye absorbs the incident light and converts it to electrons (electrical energy). Hence by replacing the dye with a natural dye, a more eco-friendly and cost-effective solar cell technology can be developed. In the present work, Lawsone pigment exacted from Lawsonia inermis (henna leaves) is used as a natural dye, to sensitize TiO2 thin films. The TiO2 layers were prepared on FTO slides by doctor blade method using double surfactant to increases the porosity of the TiO2 layers. Henna leaves dye was extracted in methanol and was used as a sensitizer. The potassium iodide and iodine electrolyte were prepared and the counter electrode of carbon/graphite was used in cell fabrication. The optical properties of the henna dye were studied using UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer and it was found that the henna dye as a strong absorbance from 200nm to 550nm and reduced absorbance up to 700nm wavelength region. This was further confirmed from absorption and extinction coefficient spectrum. The fabricated solar cells were characterized for the fill factor and efficiency.
