Dye extracted from Bael leaves as a photosensitizer in dye sensitized solar cell

Abstract

This study has explored a new plant source, Bael tree leaves, as an efficient dye extraction towards green energy harvesting through dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photosensitizers, photo-absorption, bandgap, and ionic conductivity characteristics of the extracted dye were determined using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Tauc plot, and conductivity meter, respectively. Chlorophyll is the main constituent in the extracted dye confirmed by TLC analysis. An optimum concentration (0.2 g ml−1) with ionic conductivity of 455 μS cm−1 of the dye was used as a photoactive layer in DSSC, demonstrating power densities of 1.345 μW m−2 and 8.078 μW m−2 under the illumination of the LED lamp (1555 lx) and tungsten bulb (1926 lx), respectively. Additional parameters, including fill factor (0.26), ideality factor (1.25), characteristic resistance (309 Ω), series resistance (313 Ω), and shunt resistance (662 Ω) of the fabricated DSSC under tungsten illumination reveal that the novel Bael tree leaves-based dye can harvest green energy efficiently through DSSCs.