Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells
The influence of concentration of anthocyanins in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) has been investigated, with focus on how concentration influence electron transport. The influence on electron transport was then linked to solar cell performance. Anthocyanins were extracted from fresh flowers of Ac...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021006745 |
| _version_ | 1818727483380334592 |
|---|---|
| author | Alex Okello Brian Owino Owuor Jane Namukobe Denis Okello Julius Mwabora |
| author_facet | Alex Okello Brian Owino Owuor Jane Namukobe Denis Okello Julius Mwabora |
| author_sort | Alex Okello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The influence of concentration of anthocyanins in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) has been investigated, with focus on how concentration influence electron transport. The influence on electron transport was then linked to solar cell performance. Anthocyanins were extracted from fresh flowers of Acanthus pubscenes using methanol acidified with 0.5% trifluoracetic acid, concentrated using a rotary evaporator and partitioned against ethyl acetate. Concentration of the anthocyanins was determined using Keracyanin Chloride as a standard. DSSC were fabricated using Titanium dioxide as anode, anthocyanins as sensitizers and Platinum as counter electrode material. Titanium dioxide was deposited on Fluorine doped Tin oxide glass substrate using slot coating method. Platinum was deposited on FTO glass substrate using a brush previously dipped in plastisol precursor, and annealed at 4500C for 20 min to activate Platinum. Dye sensitized solar cells were assembled using anthocyanins at varying concentrations. Performance parameters of the solar cells were measured using a solar simulator which was fitted with digital source meter. Electron transport parameters were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Open circuit voltage, short circuit current and fill factor were observed to increase with concentration of anthocyanins. The increase in solar cell performance was attributed to increase in charge density which led more charges being available for transported to solar cell contacts. The increased charge resulted in a negative shift in Fermi level of electrons in the conduction band of TiO2. The shift in Fermi level resulted into an increase in open circuit voltage and the overall solar cell performance. EIS studies revealed increase in recombination resistance with concentration of anthocyanins. The increase in recombination resistance was found to be related to increase in electron density, and hence the shift in the Fermi level of electrons in the conduction band of TiO2. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:14:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-022266d30ded47edae8e4966d42a9acb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:14:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-022266d30ded47edae8e4966d42a9acb2022-12-21T21:30:38ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402021-03-0173e06571Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cellsAlex Okello0Brian Owino Owuor1Jane Namukobe2Denis Okello3Julius Mwabora4Department of Physics, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Chemistry, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Physics, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, KenyaThe influence of concentration of anthocyanins in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) has been investigated, with focus on how concentration influence electron transport. The influence on electron transport was then linked to solar cell performance. Anthocyanins were extracted from fresh flowers of Acanthus pubscenes using methanol acidified with 0.5% trifluoracetic acid, concentrated using a rotary evaporator and partitioned against ethyl acetate. Concentration of the anthocyanins was determined using Keracyanin Chloride as a standard. DSSC were fabricated using Titanium dioxide as anode, anthocyanins as sensitizers and Platinum as counter electrode material. Titanium dioxide was deposited on Fluorine doped Tin oxide glass substrate using slot coating method. Platinum was deposited on FTO glass substrate using a brush previously dipped in plastisol precursor, and annealed at 4500C for 20 min to activate Platinum. Dye sensitized solar cells were assembled using anthocyanins at varying concentrations. Performance parameters of the solar cells were measured using a solar simulator which was fitted with digital source meter. Electron transport parameters were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Open circuit voltage, short circuit current and fill factor were observed to increase with concentration of anthocyanins. The increase in solar cell performance was attributed to increase in charge density which led more charges being available for transported to solar cell contacts. The increased charge resulted in a negative shift in Fermi level of electrons in the conduction band of TiO2. The shift in Fermi level resulted into an increase in open circuit voltage and the overall solar cell performance. EIS studies revealed increase in recombination resistance with concentration of anthocyanins. The increase in recombination resistance was found to be related to increase in electron density, and hence the shift in the Fermi level of electrons in the conduction band of TiO2.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021006745Dye sensitized solar cellsTiO2Impedance electron spectroscopySlot coatingFermi levelRecombination resistance |
| spellingShingle | Alex Okello Brian Owino Owuor Jane Namukobe Denis Okello Julius Mwabora Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells Heliyon Dye sensitized solar cells TiO2 Impedance electron spectroscopy Slot coating Fermi level Recombination resistance |
| title | Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full | Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_fullStr | Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_short | Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| title_sort | influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells |
| topic | Dye sensitized solar cells TiO2 Impedance electron spectroscopy Slot coating Fermi level Recombination resistance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021006745 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexokello influenceofconcentrationofanthocyaninsonelectrontransportindyesensitizedsolarcells AT brianowinoowuor influenceofconcentrationofanthocyaninsonelectrontransportindyesensitizedsolarcells AT janenamukobe influenceofconcentrationofanthocyaninsonelectrontransportindyesensitizedsolarcells AT denisokello influenceofconcentrationofanthocyaninsonelectrontransportindyesensitizedsolarcells AT juliusmwabora influenceofconcentrationofanthocyaninsonelectrontransportindyesensitizedsolarcells |