Performance Modeling of Mimosa pudica Extract as a Sensitizer for Solar Energy Conversion

ABSTRACT An organic material is proposed as a sustainable sensitizer and a replacement for the synthetic sensitizer in a dye-sensitized solar cell technology. Using the liquid extract from the leaf of a plant called Mimosa pudica (M. pudica) as a sensitizer, the performance characteristics of the extract of M. pudica are investigated. The photo-anode of each of the solar cell sample is passivated with a self-assembly monolayer (SAM) from a set of four materials, including alumina, formic acid, gelatine, and oxidized starch. Three sets of five samples of an M. pudica–based solar cell are produced, with the fifth sample used as the control experiment. Each of the solar cell samples has an active area of 0.3848cm2. A two-dimensional finite volume method (FVM) is used to model the transport of ions within the monolayer of the solar cell. The performance of the experimentally fabricated solar cells compares qualitatively with the ones obtained from the literature and the simulated solar cells. The highest efficiency of 3% is obtained from the use of the extract as a sensitizer. It is anticipated that the comparison of the performance characteristics with further research on the concentration of M. pudica extract will enhance the development of a reliable and competitive organic solar cell. It is also recommended that further research should be carried out on the concentration of the extract and electrolyte used in this study for a possible improved performance of the cell.