Abstract

Research Article

Chlorophylls and xanthophylls of crop plants as dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC)

Forni C*, Rossi M, Matteocci F and Di Carlo A

Published: 11 October, 2017 | Volume 1 - Issue 2 | Pages: 087-094

Natural dyes have become a viable alternative to expensive and rare organic sensitizers because of their low cost, easy attainability, abundance of supply of raw materials and environmental friendliness. Chlorophyll, the most abundant pigment, can be extracted from plant leaves with simple and inexpensive methods, but it’s difficult to use as a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) sensitizer due to the absence of OH and COOH groups. The opposite is true for xanthophylls, a particular class of carotenoids that contain free hydroxyl groups and thus may be considered as potential DSSC sensitizers. In this work we describe a new and inexpensive method of chlorophyll extraction from leaves based on the use of a basic solvent that provides the creation of COOH groups, allowing chlorophyll binding on the TiO2 layer. This modified chlorophyll dye showed a higher DSSC efficiency level (0.72%) compared to xanthophylls, which had lower efficiency.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001011 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

Keywords:

Chlorophyll; xanthophylls; Dye; DSSCs

References

  1. Grätzel Dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Photochem. Photobiol. C Photochem Rev. 2003; 4: 145-153. Ref.: https://goo.gl/hEhbBh
  2. Narayan MR. Dye sensitized solar cells based on natural photosensitizers. Ren Sustainable Energy Rev. 2012; 16: 208-215. Ref.: https://goo.gl/mHhZPg
  3. Calogero G, Bartolotta A, Di Marco G, Di Carlo A, Bonaccorso F. Vegetable-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Soc Rev. 2015; 44: 3244-3294. Ref.: https://goo.gl/UK1TK2
  4. Calogero G, Sinopoli A, Citro I, Di Marco G, Petrov V, et al. Synthetic analogues of anthocyanins as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2013; 12: 883-894. Ref.: https://goo.gl/8nXhVK
  5. Teoli F, Lucioli S, Nota P, Frattarelli A, Matteocci F, et al. Role of pH and pigment concentration for natural dye-sensitized solar cells treated with anthocyanin extracts of common fruits. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A Chem. 2016; 316: 24-30. Ref.: https://goo.gl/FmFnUs
  6. Di Bari C, Forni C, Di Carlo A, Barrajón-Catalan E, Micol V, et al. Pigments for natural dye sensitized solar cells from in vitro grown shoot cultures. J Photonics Energy. 2017; 7: 025503. Ref.: https://goo.gl/ueyJ8b 
  7. Amao Y, Kato K. Chlorophyll assembled electrode for photovoltaic conversion device. Sci. Direct. Electrochimica Acta. 2007; 53: 42-45. Ref.: https://goo.gl/UuS3pS
  8. Ritchie RJ. Consistent sets of spectrophotometric chlorophyll equations for acetone, methanol and ethanol solvents. Photosynth Res. 2006; 89: 27-41. Ref.: https://goo.gl/At9jPn
  9. Hao S, Wu J, Huang Y, Lin J. Natural dyes as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy. 2006; 80: 209-214. Ref.: https://goo.gl/QESYPi
  10. Wang XF, Kitao O, Hosono E, Zhou H, Sasaki S, et al. TiO2- and ZnO-based solar cells using a chlorophyll a derivative sensitizer for light-harvesting and energy conversion. JPhotochem Photobiol.A. 2010; 210: 145-152. Ref.: https://goo.gl/GssJCr
  11. Wang XF, Tamiaki H, Wang L, Tamai N, Kitao O, et al. Chlorophyll-a derivatives with various hydrocarbon ester groups for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells: static and ultrafast evaluations on electron injection and charge collection processes. Langmuir. 2010; 26: 6320-6327. Ref.: https://goo.gl/TP1Fo7
  12. Kay A, Grätzel M. Artificial Photosynthesis. 1. Photosensitization of TiO2 Solar Cells with Chlorophyll Derivatives and Related Natural Porphyrins. J Phys Chem. 1993; 97: 6272-6277. Ref.: https://goo.gl/jTtLL5
  13. Chang H, Wu HM, Chen TL, Huang KD, Jwo CS, et al.  Dye-sensitized solar cell using natural dyes extracted from spinach and ipomoea. J Alloys Compounds. 2008; 495: 606-610. Ref.: https://goo.gl/uEqNNf
  14. Suyitno S, Saputra TJ, Supriyanto A, Arifin Z. Stability and efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells based on papaya-leaf dye. Spectrochim. Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2015; 148: 99-104. Ref.: https://goo.gl/kuMcZW
  15. Nagovitsyn IA, Chudinova GK, Komissarov GG. Effect of carotene on the photovoltaic and optical properties of Langmuir films of chlorophyll. Doklady Biochem Biophysics. 2001; 382:  1-3. Ref.: https://goo.gl/ANiWDN
  16. Kartini I,Dwitasari L,Wahyuningsih T,Chotimah D, Wang L. Sensitization of xanthophylls-chlorophyllin mixtures on titania solar cells. Internat. J Sci Eng. 2015; 8: 109-114. Ref.: https://goo.gl/DNPdyt

Figures:

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 1

Figure 3

Figure 1

Figure 4

Figure 1

Figure 5

Figure 1

Figure 6

Figure 1

Figure 7

Similar Articles

Recently Viewed

  • Forest History Association of Wisconsin
    Ed Bauer* Ed Bauer*. Forest History Association of Wisconsin. J Radiol Oncol. 2024: doi: 10.29328/journal.jro.1001071; 8: 093-096
  • Synthesis of Carbon Nano Fiber from Organic Waste and Activation of its Surface Area
    Himanshu Narayan*, Brijesh Gaud, Amrita Singh and Sandesh Jaybhaye Himanshu Narayan*,Brijesh Gaud,Amrita Singh,Sandesh Jaybhaye. Synthesis of Carbon Nano Fiber from Organic Waste and Activation of its Surface Area. Int J Phys Res Appl. 2019: doi: 10.29328/journal.ijpra.1001017; 2: 056-059
  • Obesity Surgery in Spain
    Aniceto Baltasar* Aniceto Baltasar*. Obesity Surgery in Spain. New Insights Obes Gene Beyond. 2020: doi: 10.29328/journal.niogb.1001013; 4: 013-021
  • Tamsulosin and Dementia in old age: Is there any relationship?
    Irami Araújo-Filho*, Rebecca Renata Lapenda do Monte, Karina de Andrade Vidal Costa and Amália Cinthia Meneses Rêgo Irami Araújo-Filho*,Rebecca Renata Lapenda do Monte,Karina de Andrade Vidal Costa,Amália Cinthia Meneses Rêgo. Tamsulosin and Dementia in old age: Is there any relationship?. J Neurosci Neurol Disord. 2019: doi: 10.29328/journal.jnnd.1001025; 3: 145-147
  • Case Report: Intussusception in an Infant with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection and Post-Operative Wound Dehiscence
    Lamin Makalo*, Orlianys Ruiz Perez, Benjamin Martin, Cherno S Jallow, Momodou Lamin Jobarteh, Alagie Baldeh, Abdul Malik Fye, Fatoumatta Jitteh and Isatou Bah Lamin Makalo*,Orlianys Ruiz Perez,Benjamin Martin,Cherno S Jallow,Momodou Lamin Jobarteh,Alagie Baldeh,Abdul Malik Fye,Fatoumatta Jitteh,Isatou Bah. Case Report: Intussusception in an Infant with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection and Post-Operative Wound Dehiscence. J Community Med Health Solut. 2025: doi: 10.29328/journal.jcmhs.1001051; 6: 001-004

Read More

Most Viewed

Read More

Help ?