FT-IR and electrical characteristic of dye-sensitized solar cell using dyes from hibiscus and bougainvillea

This paper presents an investigation on active components in nature based dyes as well as the electrical characteristic of both dyes from hibiscus and bougainvillea. Experiment was conducted using the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to investigate the working components in the dyes pigment as well as solar simulator to simulate 1 sun radiance for the purpose of electrical data collection. Fabrication of the DSSC was done using Dr. Blade's method and as well as by using the carbon counter electrode. FT-IR shows that H-DI and H-Etha has important component such as the carboxyl and hydroxyl group which can bind to TiO2 to produce electron generation. As for the B-DI, carbonyl component as well as hydroxyl components was observe as well. In terms of its electrical performance, hibiscus pigment extract from di-water solvent exhibits high photoelectrical characteristic compare to B-DI, though the margin is small. Overall experiment shows that both dyes have potential in being used as dye as an alternative to their synthetic partner.