Characterization of Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract as a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Abstract

The world now is searching for a new renewable alternative energy. Nephelium lappaceum is a popular fruit in Indonesia that contains anthocyanin. Anthocyanin can absorb light on the range of visible light due to its conjugated double bonds. This finding makes Nephelium lappaceum as a potential Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). The Nephelium lappaceum extract can be taken through extraction technique, called maserasi. The process of developing DSSC material was initiated by preparing TiO2 photoanode using a conventional sintering procedure. It was, then, followed by doping TiO2 on the Fluoride doped tin oxcide (FTO) with resistance value of 10-20 ohm/q. Finally, the electrode counter made of platinum paste was developed by implementing conventional sintering procedure. All of the above process were then continued by the DSSC assembly. In this process, the TiO2 photoanode which has passed the absorption process for 24 hours, was doped on the counter electrode. After doping, the process was stopped by doing electrolyte solution filling into prepared electrode counter holes. In order to characterize the DSSC, a solar simulator connected to a computer was employed. Based on this characterization process, it was found that the maximum value of Voc was 0.29 V, the maximum value of current density was 0.56 mA / cm2, the maximum power was 0.062 mW / cm2 and efficiency of 0.063. Characteristics of Nephelium lappaceum peel extract is one of the DSSC cells using TiO2 as a semiconductor material as a dye sensitizer that can convert light energy into electrical energy.