Enhanced performance of dye-sensitized solar cell with thermally stable natural dye-assisted TiO2/MnO2 bilayer-assembled photoanode

Abstract

This study reports the performance analysis of an organic dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), introducing MnO2 as an electron transport layer in TiO2/MnO2 bilayer assembly. The DSSCs have been fabricated using TiO2 and TiO2/MnO2 layer-by-layer architecture films onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and sensitized with natural dye extracted from Malvaviscus penduliflorus flower in ethanol medium. The counter electrode was prepared to layer copper powder containing paste onto FTO's conductive side by the doctor's blade method. The optical, morphological, and structural properties of photoanodes were explored via ultraviolet–visible, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. Moreover, dye complexity and thermostability of dyes were characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. The iodide/triiodide (i.e., I−/I3−) redox couple of electrolyte solution was employed as a charge transport medium between the electrodes. Finally, photoanode and counter electrode sandwiches were assembled to envisage the photovoltaic performance potential under simulated AM 1.5G solar illumination using 100 mW cm–2 light intensity. The as-fabricated DSSC comprising TiO2/MnO2 bilayer assembly exhibited 6.02 mA cm–2 short circuit current density (Jsc), 0.38 V open-circuit voltage (Voc), 40.38% fill factor, and 0.92% conversion efficiency, which is about 200% higher compared to the assembly devoid of MnO2 layer.

Emerging Indoor Photovoltaic Technologies for Sustainable Internet of Things

“…The deposition of other layers takes place at lower temperatures, especially since many dyes degrade at temperatures above 100 °C. [ 203,207 ] As a result, a life cycle analysis of DSSC modules on glass or flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates found that the energy payback time for outdoor light harvesting applications was only 1–2 yr, with kg CO 2eq kW p −1 values approximately half of that of a‐Si. [ 188 ]…”

Recent Progress, Advancements, and Efficiency Improvement Techniques of Natural Plant Pigment‐Based Photosensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…But these kinds of photoelectrodes are highly affected by photocorrosion, which results in poor stability of the photoelectrochemical cell [37]. Instead, sensitized wide band gap semiconductors derived from metal oxides such as TiO 2 , ZnO, niobium oxide, carbon materials, bilayer-assembled, and their composites have been used as a major photoelectrode in DSSCs, as shown in Figure 4 [38,39]. So, the next section discussed the basic structure of DSSCs, which is composed of different layers as compared to conventional solar cells based on silicon, such as photoanode/photoelectrode/working electrode (WE), counterelectrode (CE), electrolyte, and sensitizer (both synthetic/complex and natural dyes) [35,38,40,41].…”

Mapping the Progress in Natural Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Materials, Parameters and Durability

“…The dependence on renewable energy resources including wind energy, hydro energy, solar energy, biomass, biofuels, and geothermal energy has increased. Among them, solar energy has attracted the attention of researchers, academics, industrialists and policy makers most because of its outstanding properties such as being environmentally friendly, simply exploitable, inexhaustible, renewable, cost‐effective, non‐contaminating and adaptable to various applications [2–7] . To harness solar energy effectively, many technologies are used; photovoltaic (PV) cells and concentrating solar power (CSP) are the most commercialized among them.…”

“…Among them, solar energy has attracted the attention of researchers, academics, industrialists and policy makers most because of its outstanding properties such as being environmentally friendly, simply exploitable, inexhaustible, renewable, cost-effective, non-contaminating and adaptable to various applications. [2][3][4][5][6][7] To harness solar energy effectively, many technologies are used; photovoltaic (PV) cells and concentrating solar power (CSP) are the most commercialized among them. In uninhabited places, CSP appears to be slightly more advantageous, whereas photovoltaics are preferred in humid areas.…”