Improved Performance of Natural Dye for Eco-friendly Solar Cell Application using SnO2 Nanoparticles by Chemical Precipitation Method

Abstract

Natural dye-sensitized solar cells (NDSSCs) have gained important interest in the field of solar energy owing to their low production cost, simple fabrication and good efficiency. In the present study, SnO 2 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical precipitation method. The photoanode is fabricated using doctor-blade technique. In this paper, the dye molecules absorb light and make excited electrons the technique adopted, which in revolve create current in the output terminals of the cell. Graphite coated glass was used as the counter electrode. The prepared nanoparticles are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and UV-Visible spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirms the structure of tetragonal structure with rutile phase, and crystallite sizes 20-30 nm. Curcuma longa dye extract used as photosensitizer. FTIR results show the M-O (Sn-O) bond with no other distinct impurities from the chemical reactions that were used for SnO 2 preparation. Finally, photocurrent-voltaic characterization of nano-crystaline natural dye solar cell using I-V studies. It was found that the levels of short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF) and overall conversion efficiency (η) of Curcuma longa dye extract. Further suggestions to improve the efficiency of NDSSC are discussed.