Exploratory insight into the stability of Rhodamine B and crude aqueous spinach extract-based photogalvanic cells: Comparing photo-stability of electrolytes for solar power and storage

Abstract

All promising solar cell devices including the photo-galvanic cells have to be sustainable and durable in nature to meet the long-term energy needs of society. Photo-galvanic cells are characterized by the two electrodes dipped in the electrolyte solution (consisting of the dye/pigment photo-sensitizer, surfactant, reductant, alkali, and water) capable of simultaneous solar energy conversion and storage. The dye/pigment molecules are prone to photo-decay. In the present work, the photogalvanic cells have been studied with respect to the photo-stability of the electrolyte based on Rhodamine B dye sensitizer and crude aqueous spinach extract sensitizer separately and consequent electrical output over a long time. It has been observed that the photo-sensitizer molecules undergo photo-decay, but, despite this decay, the cell even with the photo-decayed electrolytes has a promising capacity to produce power with storage. The results show a photo-decay of electrolytes based on both the artificial/synthetic dye materials and natural pigment materials.