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

Abstract

Production of green energy by using environment friendly and cost-effective components is attracting the attention of the research world and is found to be a promising approach to replace nonrenewable energy sources. Among the green energy sources, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are found to be the most alternative way to reduce the energy demand crises in current situation. The efficiency of DSSCs is dependent on numerous factors such as the solvent used for dye extraction, anode and cathode electrodes, and the thickness of the film, electrolyte, dye, and nature of FTO/ITO glasses. The efficiency of synthetic dye-based DSSCs is enhanced as compared to their counterparts. However, it has been found that many of the synthetic sensitizers used in DSSCs are toxic, and some of them are found to cause carcinogenicity in nature by forming a complex agent. Instead, using various parts of green plants such as leaves, roots, steam, peel waste, flowers, various spices, and mixtures of them would be a highly environmentally friendly and good efficient. The present review focuses on and summarizes the efficiency affecting factors, the various categories of natural sensitizers, and solvent effects. Furthermore, the review work assesses the experimentally and computationally obtained values and their progress in development.

Optical Properties of Lawsone dye doped with Zinc Oxide for the Fabrication of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

“…An auxochrome is a functional group of molecules that connects to a chromophore that alters the wavelength of that the chromophore's absorption of light. The skeleton C=C stretching vibrations of an aromatic ring revealed from the peak at 1636 cm -1 [10]. The magnified FTIR spectrum shows the presence of ZnO with lawsone dye alters the energy levels and also reveals together well blended in the composite.…”

Biosynthesis and antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles using Buchanania obovata fruit extract and the eutectic-based ionic liquid

“…The FTIR spectrum of B. obovata fruit extract (figure 5) reveals the presence of functional groups like C=O, O-H, and C-N, suggesting their potential role in ZnO nanoparticle synthesis [52]. Peaks observed at 1,663 cm −1 and 3,401 cm −1 correspond to C=O and O-H stretching vibrations, while the Additionally, bands detected at 1,663 cm −1 and 675 cm −1 imply the involvement of hydrocarbons and halo-alkanes in the synthesis and stability of ZnO nanoparticles [53].…”

Effect of ions added by mordant and brightener on the signal structure and energy storage properties of natural dye-based DSSCs

“…[1][2][3] Additional benefits include the immense variety of natural dyes that exist in nature with almost unlimited availability, and its reduced costs. 4,5 Practically, all these properties enter into an ecological scheme, a policy focused on global environmental conservation. However, natural dye-based cells have two severe drawbacks: low efficiency and short lifetimes; for these reasons, this type of cells has not been commercialized; 6 however, these problems are only temporary and do not overshadow the great benefits that this type of cell would bring humanity.…”