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Efficient dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using a less toxic alternative to electrolyte and charge collector

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Abstract

The photovoltaic investigation of novel and efficient dye-sensitized solar cells is discussed in this paper. Ruthenium-based synthetic dye (N3) is used as a sensitizer. A less toxic alternative is suggested for toxic indium-based glass substrates by using aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as charge collectors. Moreover, the electrolyte used is a mixture of polymer (polyaniline) and an iodide-triiodide couple to go for the approach involving a lower amount of iodine. In the paper study, on the extent of light, absorption of dye is done by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The morphological study of sheets is done using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images to understand the binding of titania on photoanode. Photovoltaic characteristics (I-V) and induced photon to current efficiency (IPCE) measurements, and light harvesting efficiency (LHE) are also investigated. The highest power conversion efficiency of 6.18% is observed in the suggested fabricated green solar cell. Hence, more efficient, indium-free, and novel cell is fabricated by the usage of different charge collector substrates and quasi solid-state electrolytes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors hereby acknowledge the Department of Chemical Engineering of Nirma University, India.

Funding

The minor research project was funded by Nirma University.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, 382481, Gujarat, India

    Neha Patni & Shibu G. Pillai

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  1. Neha Patni
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  2. Shibu G. Pillai
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SGP: supervision, validation, and funding acquisition. NP: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, writing — original draft preparation, visualization, investigation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Neha Patni.

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Patni, N., Pillai, S.G. Efficient dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using a less toxic alternative to electrolyte and charge collector. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 75955–75965 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21136-7

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