Article: Nanocrystalline TiO<SUB align=right>2</SUB> based natural dye sensitized solar cells Journal: International Journal of Nanomanufacturing (IJNM) 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2/3/4 pp.242 - 247 Abstract: Dye sensitised solar cells using natural organic dyes were prepared. Sensitisation of wide gap oxides semiconductor materials was accomplished using nanocrystalline TiO<SUB align="right">2</SUB> with henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) and raspberries (Rubus spp.) photosensitisers as a local natural organic dyes. It was shown that the nanocrystalline material based solar cell system exhibits an excellent optical absorption parameters for visible and near infrared portion of the EM spectrum. Henna and raspberries natural dyes were extracted from the corresponding dried plant using Soxhlet extractor. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were measured for both of the nanocrystalline solar cell samples. Typical open circuit voltage of 400 mV and short-circuit current density of 0.47 mA/cm² were measured for raspberries cell samples for an active area of ∼3 cm² at 1.5 AM solar illumination. Henna cells samples prepared by the same technique produced an open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density of much lesser values (200 mV, 0.04 mA/cm²). The performance of both nanocrystalline solar cell samples can be appreciably enhanced by optimising the preparation technique and using different types of electrolyte solutions. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Nanocrystalline TiO₂ based natural dye sensitized solar cells

Authors: Khalil Ebrahim Jasim, Awatef M. Hassan

Addresses: Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. ' Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract: Dye sensitised solar cells using natural organic dyes were prepared. Sensitisation of wide gap oxides semiconductor materials was accomplished using nanocrystalline TiO₂ with henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) and raspberries (Rubus spp.) photosensitisers as a local natural organic dyes. It was shown that the nanocrystalline material based solar cell system exhibits an excellent optical absorption parameters for visible and near infrared portion of the EM spectrum. Henna and raspberries natural dyes were extracted from the corresponding dried plant using Soxhlet extractor. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were measured for both of the nanocrystalline solar cell samples. Typical open circuit voltage of 400 mV and short-circuit current density of 0.47 mA/cm² were measured for raspberries cell samples for an active area of ∼3 cm² at 1.5 AM solar illumination. Henna cells samples prepared by the same technique produced an open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density of much lesser values (200 mV, 0.04 mA/cm²). The performance of both nanocrystalline solar cell samples can be appreciably enhanced by optimising the preparation technique and using different types of electrolyte solutions.

Keywords: nanocrystalline TiO2; titanium dioxide; dye sensitised solar cells; natural organic dyes; henna dye; Lawsonia inermis L; raspberries; wide gap oxides; semiconductor materials; Soxhlet extractor; electrolyte solutions; nanotechnology; solar energy; solar power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2009.028131

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2/3/4, pp.242 - 247

Published online: 07 Sep 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Nanocrystalline TiO2 based natural dye sensitized solar cells

Keep up-to-date

Title: Nanocrystalline TiO₂ based natural dye sensitized solar cells