Efficiency Enhancement of Biophotovoltaic Solid‐State Solar Cells

Abstract

Biophotovoltaic solid state solar cells are new friendly environmentally solar cells inspired by photosynthesis phenomena. Photosystem I, a complex protein located in the chloroplast of the plant leaves that has a principal role in light absorption, is the most common light absorber used in biophotovoltaic solid state solar cells. Low efficiency and low current density are the main challenges in this kind of solar cell. In the present study, to vacillate the motion of electrons and holes, we use carbon nanotubes and tyrosine as transfer layers and to increase light absorbance, a solution of photosystem I with silver nanoparticles as an absorber layer is used. We show that the short circuit current density and the efficiency can be enhanced to 6.61 mA/cm2 and 0.83%, respectively which are the highest values for current density and efficiency reported for this kind of solar cell. These enhancements are due to the high electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes, proper porosity of tyrosine and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of silver nanoparticles induced under light irradiation. Our results can illuminate hopes and dreams for biophotovoltaic solid state solar cells with higher current density and higher efficiency.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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