Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Conversion Efficiency Enhancement: A Review

Abstract

The development of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by Grätzel in 1991 provided a reliable substitute to p-n junction photovoltaic cell in the production of clean green energy. Synthetic dyes have been used to fabricate DSSC with conversion efficiencies higher than 14%. Environmental hazard and high cost of metal complex dyes motivated researchers to focus on using natural dyes which are cheap, available and environmentally friendly in the manufacture of DSSC. One of the major challenges of natural dye sensitized solar cell (NDSSC) is low conversion efficiency. This review highlights the working principle of DSSC and techniques used by researchers in the area of photoanode, counter electrode, sensitizer, and electrolyte to improve NDSSC energy conversion efficiency.