Dye-sensitized solar cells with natural dyes extracted from rose petals

Abstract

Nanocrystalline TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells have been fabricated using TiO2 photoelectrode sensitized using the extracts of red rose and table rose as natural sensitizers and their characteristics have been studied. The extracts having anthocyanin pigment (pelargonidin, peonidin and cyanidin), which have hydroxyl and carboxylic groups in the molecule can attach effectively to the surface of TiO2 film. The solar cell constructed using the red rose sensitized TiO2 photo-electrode exhibited a short-circuit photocurrent of 4.57 mA/cm2 and a power conversion efficiency of 0.81 % and that of table rose sensitized TiO2 photo-electrode exhibited a short-circuit photocurrent of 4.23 mA/cm2 and a power conversion efficiency of 0.67 %. Natural dye sensitized TiO2 photo electrodes present the prospect to be used as an environment-friendly, low-cost alternative system.