Stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit of TiO2/treated metakaolinite-based dye-sensitized solar cell: effect of illumination intensity on Voc and Isc values

Abstract

In this research, treated metakaolinite (TMK) was introduced into the TiO2 photoelectrode to fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic cells have four main natural components, i.e., a photosensitizer (carotenoid bixin), photoelectrode (TiO2/kaolinite), electrolyte (glycerine carbonate derivative), and counter-electrode (carbon). Their stability, reusability, and equivalent circuit were studied. The presence of 5% of TMK in anatase TiO2 paste decreased the TiO2 band gap from 3.21 to 3.16 eV. The result showed that the presence of 5% of TMK in TiO2 paste was more favorable to obtain higher energy conversion efficiency. Under a light intensity of 200 W/m2, it produced an energy conversion yield of 0.086%. The combination of the electrolyte and the TMK demonstrated a synergistic effect to improve the electrical properties of the DSSC. The energy storage function worked well until the third day of analysis. The DSSC based on TiO2/TMK photoelectrode exhibited 16 times better stability than pure TiO2-based photoelectrode. The Faraday charge transfer processes showed that the TiO2/TMK photoelectrode is not in direct contact with the carbon counter-electrode.

The Effect of Addition of SnO2 Doping on The Electronic Structure of TiO2 Thin Film as Photo-Anode in DSSC Applications

“…This feature gives a more stable chemical bond and permits excellent interconnection and continuity between titania nanoparticles, which in turn enhances electron transfer efficiency in photoanode [18]. This phenomenon showed that the inclusion of SnO2 in the TiO2 may stabilize the anatase as the main and strongest phase.…”

The Effect of Cell Surface Area on the Effectivity and Reusability of Bixin Sensitized Solar Cells

“…Furthermore, incorporating bixin into the interlayer space of kaolinite can increase the stability of bixin. The stability of kaolinite-bixin organoclay increased up to 15% compared to pure bixin [8]. Another study has reported that when used as a sensitizer, the Znbixin complex can be stable up to 700 W m -2 irradiation [7].…”

“…Measurement of DSSC reusability can be done by irradiating solar cells for several days until the cells are completely dead or unable to produce current. Rahmalia et al [8] reported that TiO2/treated metakaolinite-based DSSC could survive for up to 3 days with a rest period of 17 hours after being exposed to light continuously for 7 hours under an intensity of 200 Wm -2 .…”

Simple Green Routes for Metal-Bixin Complexes Synthesis Using Glycerol-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent

“…Bixin has been shown to reduce the inflammatory response and atherosclerotic plaque in hypercholesterolemic rabbits [4] and prevent neuroinflammation and demyelination in mice [5]. Rahmalia et al [6][7] used bixin as a sensitizer, such as a light filter, so it has the potency to protect food products from oxidation due to light.…”

“…1), as well as carotenoids, several researchers have reported increased stability in many ways, such as impregnation, encapsulation, complexation, and incorporation of bixin or norbixin molecules into other materials [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Our previous research has successfully synthesized the metal- bixin complex through the reflux method using conventional organic solvent [7]. This method can improve the polarity and photostability of bixin, as well as prevent clouding or loss of color from bixin, which is generally caused by the encapsulation method [12].…”