Abstract
A comparative analysis between crude and purified extracts obtained from withered leaves of Terminalia catappa (T. catappa) and pure compounds of anthocyanidins as organic sensitizers in solar cells. The chemical and electronic properties of the extracts and the pure anthocyanidins were examined using spectroscopic studies: ultraviolet (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Solar cells were fabricated using TiO2 mesoporous film and the extracts and pure compounds as sensitizers. The prominent transitions in U-V spectra were in nature. There were observed shifts in the wavelengths of the absorptions (around 350 to 380 nm) and a characteristic decrease in the absorption between the crude (TCE) and purified (TCP) extracts. The FT-IR spectra of the crude and purified sample have similar absorbances with bathochromic (red) shifts on the hydroxyl group and hypsochromic (blue) shifts on the benzene ring. The GC-FID chromatograms and spectra revealed the presence of six anthocyanidins and their amounts in mg per 100 g of the sample. The results showed that delphinidin was most abundant, and its quantity increases with purification of the extracts, while other anthocyanidins decreased with purification in both extracts. The photovoltaic performances also increase with purity. The best results were obtained with cyanidin-TiO2 solar cells with efficiencies up to 2.27%. Key words: Terminalia catappa, anthocyanins, solar cell, efficiency, purification, extracts.
Highlights
Anthocyanins are water-soluble glycosides of polyhydroxyl and polymethoxyl derivatives of 2phenylbenzopyrylium or flavylium salts and an anthocyanin without sugar moiety is referred to as an anthocyanidin (Middleton, 2000)
The ability of these molecules to convert the light into electricity and to induce redox reactions can be very interesting with respect to their implementation in artificial systems (Duthie et al, 2000; Close and Beadle, 2003), but it has been faced with challenges of low efficiency and stability
The analysis of six common anthocyanins in the extract obtained from the calyxes of T. catappa was reported with delphinidin being the most abundant and its content increased with purification of the extract
Summary
Anthocyanins are water-soluble glycosides of polyhydroxyl and polymethoxyl derivatives of 2phenylbenzopyrylium or flavylium salts and an anthocyanin without sugar moiety is referred to as an anthocyanidin (Middleton, 2000). This study explores the application of the extracts (crude and purified) as sensitizers in photovoltaic, DSSCs. The DSSCs light (from the sun) is absorbed by a sensitizer, which is anchored to the surface of a wide band gap oxide semiconductor, like TiO2. The filtrate was concentrated in a water bath at 50 ± 5°C to obtain the purified anthocyanin, which was stored in a dark plastic bottle in a refrigerator until use.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
