Natural Dye Extracts of Areca Catechu Nut as dye Sensitizer for Titanium dioxide Based Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

A dye sensitized solar cell was fabricated using titanium dioxide nano particles sensitized by a new natural dye extracted from areca catechu nut. The natural dye extract contains tannin which is rich in gallotannic acid. The pure titanium dioxide nano particles in anatase phase were synthesized by sol-gel technique and were sensitized by the natural dye to yield photo anode material. The Powder X-Ray Diffraction, UV-vis spectra, Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X- Ray spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy studies of pure and natural dye sensitized TiO2 were carried out to analyze their structural, optical, functional group, compositional and morphological details. The dye sensitized solar cell was fabricated using TiO2 nano particles coated on FTO glass plate which is sensitized by the natural dye as photo anode and platinum coated FTO as counter electrode. The natural dye sensitized solar cell showed a solar light energy to electron conversion efficiency of 0.76 %. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35814