Enhanced Efficiency of Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell: Cobolt Chelated Lonchocarpus Cyanescensextrac

Volume 3, Issue 10, October – 2018 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Enhanced Efficiency Of Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar

Cell: Cobolt Chelated Lonchocarpus
Cyanescensextrac
M.O. John, A.I. Babatunde, M.A. Olopade M.O. John, A.G.O Logunleko
C. Isanbor Department of physics Department of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry University of Lagos Tai Solarin College of Education
University of Lagos Akoka, Nigeria. Omu, Nigeria.
Akoka ,Nigeria.
Abstract:- The crude ethylacetate extract of viable solar energy devices emerge. In this context, we have
Lonchocarpus cyanescens has been found to be a incorporated cobolt metal into the natural dye exract from
potential sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs]. Lonchocarpus cyanescens in a bid to improve its light
An attempt was made in this study to enhance the light harvesting capacity.
harvesting properties of the dye by incorporating cobolt
metal ion into it. The UV/VIS absorption spectrum of the II. MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS
processed extract showed a moderate auxochromic shift
compared with that of the neat extract and an improved Transparent conductive oxide coated glass (TCO, 10 to
light conversion efficiency was observed from the solar 12 ohm/m2, 5 x 5 cm), Ti- Nanoxide D, iodolyte and
cell produced from the former. The light conversion meltonix polymer foil were purchased from SOLARONIX,
efficiencies of the cobolt incorporated extract DSSC is Switzerland and CoCl2 from Aldrich. Dye extract was
1.69% greater than the neat extract DSSC. obtained from (Lonchocarpus cyanescens) leavesand carbon
soot from candle flame.
Keywords:- Lonchocarpus cyanescens, natural dyes,
polypyridyl metal complexes, absorption peak. III. PREPARATION OF NATURAL DYE
SENSITIZERS
I. INTRODUCTION
The dried leaves of Lonchocarpus cyanescens were
The world energy consumption which is growing ground into powder and 4033g of sample soaked in ethanol
astronomically by the day can no longer be sustained by the for seven days. The mixture was filtered and concentrated
limited fossil fuel reserves. There is therefore an urgent need using a rotary evaporator. Further purification was carried
for a sustainable alternative. Solar energy appears the most out by solvent-solvent extraction and the ethylacetate
promising among other renewable energy sources due to its fraction was used as dye sensitizer.
abundance and environmental compliance [Gratzel, 2005,
Ibitoye et al., 2007 and Ofoefule, 2011]. Much attention has IV. DSSC FABRICATION
been given to the conversion of solar energy into electricity TiO2 paste purchased from Solaronix was coated by
using photovoltaic devices made from inorganic materials. doctor blading technique on pre-cleaned fluorine doped tin
The materials for conventional photovoltaic cells which oxide (FTO) conducting glasses. This sheet was then
must be of high purity are rather too expensive and further sintered at 450°C for about 20 minutes. Photoanode was
research into new ways of manufacturing cheap and prepared by soaking the TiO2 coated FTO for 24hrs in dye
environmental friendly cells has led to the development of solution. The dye stained film was rinsed with ethanol and
organic dye sensitized cells[Srikanth et al., 2011 and Jeroh dried. A counter electrode was prepared by coating an FTO
et al., 2012]. The finest photovoltaic performance in terms slide with carbon soot from candle flame. The dye coated
of both conversion yield and long term stability has so far TiO2 /FTO plate was laced with meltonix foil round about
been achieved with polypyridyl complexes of the TiO2coatleaving two narrow slits on opposite sides to
ruthenium[Narayan, 2011]. However, the use of this serve as openings into the cell. Thecounter electrodeslide
expensive Ru metal, derived from relatively scarce resources was carefully placed on the photoanode and the slides sealed
corresponds to relatively heavy environmental burden [Preat in a hot press at 80°C for about 30 minutes. Few drops of
et al., 2009]. Some organic metal-free compounds have been electrolyte was then introduced into the cell.
found to produce even cheaper photosensitizer for dye
sensitized cells but they have very low solar-to-electrical V. CHARACTERISATION OF DSSC
power conversion efficiencies. The use of nontoxic, low cost
and fully biodegradable natural dye has also attracted the The UV-visible absorption measurements of the neat
attention of many researchers despite their low power and cobolt incorporated extracts were carried out with
conversion efficiencies [Ali et al., 2010, Meng et al., 2008, Genesys 10 UV-visible spectrophotometer (Fig.1a and 1b).
Kumara et al., 2006, Kay et al., 1993, Wrobel, 2003, The photoelectrochemical measurements of DSSCs were
Tadesse et al., 2012 and Narayan, 2012]. The search for performed under a standard solar radiation of 1000 W/m2
efficient natural dye would continue until economically using overhead Veeco-viewpoint solar simulator coupled
IJISRT18OC235 www.ijisrt.com 273

ISSN No:-2456-2165
with a four point Keithley multimeter and lab tracer various plant have been shown to give different sensitizing
software for data acquisition at room temperature. The performances[Jeroh et al., 2012]. The ethylacetate fraction
active cell area was 1.6 cm2. of lonchocarpus cyanescens neat extract exhibits absorption
peaks at 505, 532, 604 and 664nm respectively (Fig. 1a).
Based on the I-V curve the power conversion The absorption peak at 532 nm can be attributed to the
efficiency was calculated according to the equation: presence of anthocyanins as these have been shown to
absorb in the range of 500 nm [Chuanguang et al., 2010].
% = FF X Jsc x VOC The absorption peaks of 410nm and 664nm are due to the
I presence of chlorophyl- a. Chlorophyl is the pigment
Where Jsc is the short-circuit current, I is the intensity responsible for light absorption in photosynthesis [Narayan,
of the incident light (W/m2), VOC is the open circuit voltage 2011]. The spectrum (Fig.1b) for cobolt treated extract
(volts),FF is the fill factor defined as: showed a moderate auxochromic shift compared with that of
the neat extract. The shift can be attributed to specific
FF = JmVm /JSC VOC modifications of electronic structures of extract due to the
formation of cobolt complexes ofphytochemicals in the
Where Jm and Vm are the optimum photocurrent and extract.
voltage extracted from the maximum, power point of the I-V
characteristics. The efficiency of the solar cell from the cobolt
incorporated extract is 1.69% greater than then eat extract of
Lonchocarpus cyanescens.The results show that light
harvesting property of leaf extract ofLonchocarpus
cyanescenscan be enhanced by incorporating metal ions into
the natural dye.
VII. CONCLUSION
The results show that metal incorporated extract of

Lonchocarpus cyanescens gives a better dye-sensitized solar
cell than the neat extract.
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Enhanced Efficiency of Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell: Cobolt Chelated Lonchocarpus Cyanescensextrac

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Volume 3, Issue 10, October – 2018 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

Enhanced Efficiency Of Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar

IJISRT18OC235 www.ijisrt.com 273

The results show that metal incorporated extract of

[1]. Gratzel M. (2005): Solar energy conversion by Dye -

IJISRT18OC235 www.ijisrt.com 274

IJISRT18OC235 www.ijisrt.com 275

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