Yumbo Tumtum as a Photosensitizer in the Fabrication of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Abstract

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was fabricated using a natural dye Yombo-tumtum (YT) as the photosensitizer. The solar cell configuration include a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) (Fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass or FTO/glass) substrate as the transparent electrode, Zinc oxide (ZnO) as anode, YT as the sensitizer, iodide/triiodide (I⁻/I₃⁻) as the electrolyte, and platinum coated FTO/glass as counter electrode (cathode). The absorption spectrum of the dye (YT) was investigated by uv/vis spectroscopy, and it revealed high absorbance property within the visible region (400 - 700 nm). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy carried out on the dye (YT) showed its infrared spectrum and revealed the functional group of the dye with major peaks at 3340.71, 2970.38, 1647.21, 1159.22 and 948.98 cm^-1. The photoelectric values obtained under illumination was 31.5mV and 7.5 μA which dropped to17.6 mV and 2.0 µA when the cell was partially covered, indicating the photosensitivity of the device. The current - voltage characteristic values were obtained for the cell fabricated using the dye and the fill factor and the efficiency obtained were 0.5473 and 4.7 x 10^-3%.