The effect of mixing Chlorophyll-Antocyanin as a natural source dye on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)

Abstract

Sunlight is a natural alternative energy as a renewable energy source. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) is third generation solar cell as a substitute for conventional solar cells made from silicon because it is easy to manufacture. One important part of DSSC is dye because it has an important role in light absorption, photoelectron production, and electron transfer processes to increase the efficiency of electrical energy conversion. Modification of dye as an active material for DSSC as an effort to improve the performance of optical properties and photoconductivity of the dye. Mixing chlorophyll dye with anthocyanin dye aims to widen the area of the visible light absorption band. Chlorophyll dye obtained from green spinach extract and anthocyanin dye obtained from red rose extract. Absorbance test using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer obtained a widening of the light absorption range at 400-700 nm. The conductivity test using Keithley I-V meter 2602A to determine the dye’s ability to conduct electric current, the best conductivity was obtained in the 1:2 chlorophyll-anthocyanin mixture is 4.83 x10−2 Ω−1 m−1. The I-V DSSC test using Keithley I-V meter 2602A obtained the best electrical energy conversion efficiency in the 1:2 chlorophyll-anthocyanin dye mixture is 5.8 x10−2 %.