Green Nanochemistry Approach to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle, Dye- Sensitized Solar Cells
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a class of thin-film solar cells which can be created using low-cost materials and natural dyes. They have the potential to achieve comparable efficiency to bulky silicon photovoltaic cells, while providing many other distinct advantages such as a more tunable band gap and device flexibility. In this research, anthocyanin, a natural dye extracted from various fruits, was used and tested as the photon harvesting/electron donating dye in titanium dioxide nanoparticle-based DSSCs. Anthocyanin molecules were extracted through mechanical pulverization and chemical extraction methods, with both being evaluated in a DSSC system. These results demonstrate that DSSCs made from chemically extracted blackberry-based anthocyanin cells produced almost 5 greater photocurrent density compared to DSSCs made through the mechanical pulverization method. The highest output was achieved with DSSCs created through the use of chemically extracted blueberry anthocyanin dyes, producing a photocurrent density, Isc, of 7.30 mA and an open circuit voltage, Voc, of 335 mV.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA568644
Entities
People
- Daniel S. Choi
- Hailey E. Cramer
- Mark H Griep
- Shashi P. Karna
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory