Lotus Leaf Derived Natural Dye as Sensitizer and Biochar as Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract:

Natural dyes were obtained from lotus leaf by ethanol extraction, and biochar was prepared by one-step pyrolysis in this study. The UV-Vis spectrum of lotus leaf derived natural dye indicated that it had good light absorption performance. The energy conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with the natural dye as sensitizer and platinum as counter electrode was 0.36%, and the filling factor was as high as 0.66. Owing to its relatively rich pore structures and glassy carbon materials, the biochar showed its good catalytic performance, which made the PCE of DSSC reach 1.42% when the biochar as counter electrode and N719 as sensitizer. Meanwhile, the PCE achieved 0.15% when lotus leaf derived natural dye as sensitizer and biochar as counter electrode simultaneously. This study has realized the full utilization of biomass in dye-sensitized solar cells, providing the possibility for preparation of low-cost and high-efficiency DSSC.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 993)
• Pages: 884-892
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.993.884
• Online since: May 2020
• Authors: Ping Huang, Shun Jian Xu*, Meng Zhang, Wei Zhong, Zonghu Xiao, Yong Ping Luo
• Keywords: Biochar, Counter Electrode, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Lotus Leaf, Natural Dye, Sensitizer

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