Evaluation of mixed dye combination by spectral study for the application as photosensitizer in photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage

Abstract

The mixed dye combination has significant capacity to absorb broad portion of solar spectrum, which enhance the performance of the photogalvanic cell. Therefore, in present work, all possible (55) combinations of binary mixed dyes of different 11 dyes have been studied, in order to select stable mixed dye combination that can absorb wider range of solar spectrum and retains λmax value of both dyes. Out of all these mixed dyes combinations, MB+BCP absorbs broadest visible wavelength (431.0–664.0 nm) followed by AB+BCP (431.0–645.0 nm), TB+BCP (431.0–628.0 nm) and lowest by BCB+BCP (431.0–625.0 nm). The MB+BCP absorbs the widest visible solar spectrum and retain λmax value of both dyes. The absorbance maxima of these dyes, in mixed dye solution, show no change in their λmax values. It may be because of chemically, MB and BCP both are very stable in nature. Thus, this type of stable mixed dyes combination of photosensitizer may selected as an efficient and broader visible radiation absorbing combination which may enhance the performance of the photogalvanic cell. The broad solar spectrum absorbing mixed dye combination, obtained from present study may offer a promising alternative to the existing dye (randomly selected) as an efficient photosensitizer of the photogalvanic cell for solar energy conversion and storage.