Exploring natural dyes from microalgae and plants for high-efficiency in TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells

IF 2.8 4区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Pub Date : 2025-09-17 DOI:10.1007/s10854-025-15813-9

Gbemiga Matthias Lana, Victoria Olaide Adenigba, Gabriel Ayinde Alamu, Olayinka Joshua Oyewole, Yetunde A. Ajayeoba, Khadijat Kuburat Babalola, Hakeem Olayinka Oyeshola, Ismaila Taiwo Bello, Oluwaseun Adedokun

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explored the potential of natural pigments extracted from Chlamydomonas starii, Coelastrella sp., Sorghum bicolor leaves, and Spirodela polyrhiza as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using TiO₂ as the photoanode. Characterization of TiO₂ via XRD, SEM, FTIR, and DRS confirmed its suitability for efficient dye adsorption and electron transport. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed distinct absorption spectra for each dye extract, with bandgaps ranging from 1.67 eV (Coelastrella sp.) to 2.87 eV (Spirodela polyrhiza). Photovoltaic performance evaluation demonstrated Spirodela polyrhiza as the most efficient sensitizer, achieving a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.685%. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed with a combination of Sorghum bicolor and Chlamydomonas starii, yielding a PCE of 3.762%. These findings highlight the promising potential of natural dyes, particularly from aquatic sources, for developing low-cost and sustainable DSSCs. Further research is warranted to optimize dye extraction, enhance dye-TiO₂ interactions, and improve long-term stability for real-world applications.

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探索从微藻和植物中提取的天然染料用于高效的二氧化钛基染料敏化太阳能电池

本研究探讨了从星衣藻（Chlamydomonas starii）、Coelastrella sp.、高粱双色叶和多螺旋藻（Spirodela polyrhiza）中提取的天然色素在以TiO2为光阳极的染料敏化太阳能电池（DSSCs）中的敏化潜力。通过XRD、SEM、FTIR和DRS对TiO2进行了表征，证实了TiO2具有高效的染料吸附和电子传递能力。紫外可见光谱显示，各染料提取物的吸收光谱不同，带隙范围为1.67 eV (Coelastrella sp.) ~ 2.87 eV （Spirodela polyrhiza）。光伏性能评价表明，多根螺旋藻是最有效的敏化剂，其功率转换效率（PCE）为3.685%。高粱双色菌与星衣单胞菌配用具有协同效应，PCE为3.762%。这些发现突出了天然染料，特别是来自水生来源的染料在开发低成本和可持续的DSSCs方面的巨大潜力。进一步的研究需要优化染料提取，增强染料与tio2的相互作用，并提高实际应用的长期稳定性。

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来源期刊

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

7.10%

发文量

1931

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics is an established refereed companion to the Journal of Materials Science. It publishes papers on materials and their applications in modern electronics, covering the ground between fundamental science, such as semiconductor physics, and work concerned specifically with applications. It explores the growth and preparation of new materials, as well as their processing, fabrication, bonding and encapsulation, together with the reliability, failure analysis, quality assurance and characterization related to the whole range of applications in electronics. The Journal presents papers in newly developing fields such as low dimensional structures and devices, optoelectronics including III-V compounds, glasses and linear/non-linear crystal materials and lasers, high Tc superconductors, conducting polymers, thick film materials and new contact technologies, as well as the established electronics device and circuit materials.