Fabrication of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Based on TiO₂ Nanoparticles and Chlorophyll from Pandan Leaf as Active Layer

Abstract:

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a new class of low-cost solar cell, that belongs to third generation solar cells in thin film based. It is based on a semiconductor formed between a photo-sensitized anode and an electrolyte, known as photoelectrochemical system. A lot of research has been conducted due to their interesting potential for low-cost, lightweight, disposable and having cell efficiency up to 10%. This paper reports the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cells using TiO₂ nanoparticles and chlorophyll as active layer. TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method while the chlorophyll was extracted from Pandanus amaryllifolius (Pandan leaf). TiO₂ film was prepared on ITO coated glass using dip coating technique and then immersed overnight in the chlorophyll solution. An electrolyte solution composed of PC-LiClO₄ was injected into the cell before sealed using glass that was coated with Pt as top electrode. An active area of 4.48 cm² was fabricated by black masking the front side. The performance of the device was studied by observing the current-voltage characteristics of the device in dark at ambient temperature and under illumination of 100 mW/cm² light. It was found that the device showed rectifier property in the dark and able to generate electrical current under light.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 545)
• Pages: 405-409
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.545.405
• Online since: July 2012
• Authors: Nurul Huda Yusoff, Mohamad Firdaus Rosle, Surani Buniran
• Keywords: Chlorophyll, Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Electrolyte, TiO₂ Nanoparticle

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