Enhancing the performance of TiO2 based N-DSSC using dye extracted from Cladophora Columbiana, Ludwigia repens and mixed sensitizer

Abstract

Natural dye sensitized solar cell were fabricated using Cladophora Columbiana (green algae, G), Ludwigia repens (plant, P) and Mixed (M). Sensitizer was extracted using ethanol as a solvent. TiO2 nanoparticle (p25) were coated on FTO substrate using doctor blade method as a photoanode. Optical and electrical properties were carried out for comparative study of fabricated photoanode. The individual dye sensitized photoanode has made more significant absorption in the visible region compared with the mixed photoanode using UV–Vis spectrophotometer. FT-IR studies were performed for the extracted dyes for the chemical elucidation of presence of favorable functional groups that ensures anchoring capability of dye molecule towards the TiO2 particle. The recombination mechanism of fabricated photoanodes were analysed using photoluminescence spectra. In addition, J-V characteristics of fabricated N-DSSCs, G incorporated N-DSSC shows a maximum efficiency of 1.31%.