Dye-sensitised solar cells with a naturally occurring pigment lycopene as a photosensitiser for zirconium dioxide: an experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the prospect of utilization lycopene in a dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) with zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) as the photoanode. Carotenoids were extracted from the carrots in petroleum ether and then lycopene was isolated from the extract by column chromatographic separation method. The lycopene fraction of a column elute was identified using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Energies of HOMO and LUMO levels of lycopene were theoretically calculated using Firefly at B3LYP/6-311G (d, p). ZrO2 was purchased from Sigma–Aldrich. It was characterised using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. A ZrO2 film on fluorine-doped tin oxide conducting glass plate was prepared by the doctor blading technique followed by annealing at 450 °C in air for 1 h and then sensitised with lycopene. The sandwich type DSSC was fabricated and the current–voltage characteristics were investigated.