Innovative economic anthocyanin dye source for enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Four natural dyes were extracted from different fruits used in the Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). It includes ber, blackberry, black grapes, and blueberry by individual dye or combined with other dyes. The dye solution's absorption spectra were extended to the whole visible region 200–750 nm. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to identify the possible functional group vibrations responsible for the dyes' chemical activity and optical behaviour. The TiO2 powder was coated on the ITO conducting surface to form a thin film. The experimental results showed that the ber dye produces the highest solar cell efficiency (η), ˜13%, among all four extracted anthocyanin studied. It also found that ber combination with other dyes is higher conversion efficiency than blackberry, black grapes, and blueberry with another and vice versa. Ber dye can be helpful in the development of more eco-friendly and cost-effective solar cells with commercially promising DSSC.