PHOTOELECTRODE NANOSTRUCTURE DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL

Authors

  • M.I. Kimpa Department of Physics, School of Physical Sciences, Federal University of Technology Minna, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Niger State,
  • J.A. Yabagi Departments of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, P.M.B 11, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • H. Isah Department of Physics, School of Physical Sciences, Federal University of Technology Minna, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
  • T. Sulaiman Department of Preminary Studies, Umar Waziri Federal Polytechnics, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
  • A.K. Isiyaku Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kaduna State University, P.M.B 2339, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
  • S.G. Durumin Iya Power Equipment and Electrical Machinery Development Institute (PEEMADI) Okene, Nigeria.
  • A.M. Imam Department of Physics with Electronics, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, 862104, Kebbi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study used carica papaya (pawpaw leaf) extracts as natural organic dye for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Pawpaw leaf extract is rich in chlorophyll and was extracted using ethanol as the extracting solvent and serve as the sensitizer for DSSC. The specialty of the DSSC relative to other types of solar cells is the use of the dye. In addition, the self-developed photoelectrode nanostructure TiO2 with an average particle size of 50 nm was synthesized through solution chemistry techniques and deposited on the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate using screen printing procedure, forming a TiO2 thin film of 12 μm thicknesses. This TiO2 thin film underwent sintering at 450 °C to enhance the compactness of the film before impregnation into the dye solutions. This study further investigated the photoelectric conversion efficiency and the fill factor of the encapsulated DSSC. The experimental results show conversion efficiency of 0.030 % with fill factor of 0.5867, short circuit current density (ISc) of 15.7325 mA/cm and open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.5248 V. The photoelectrochemical performance of this extract demonstrated to be used as future alternative to application in solar cell.

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Published

2018-04-08

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ARTICLES