Natural dye extracts of wasted fruit peels as photo-sensitizers for TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
Paper Details
Natural dye extracts of wasted fruit peels as photo-sensitizers for TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
Abstract
Fruits and vegetable peels/skin are considered as inedible and waste material or by-products during juice processing. However, peels are excellent source of natural dye that can be used for various purposes. Six different plant species (ND1-ND6) namely Beta vulgaris, Lycopersicum esculentum, Prunus domestica, Vitis vinefera, Punica granatum and Daucus carota were selected as a source of natural dye extraction and its application for DSSCs. The ethanolic extraction was made through maceration. The photo-physical, electrochemical and photovoltaic responses of natural dyes were analysed through UV-visible absorption spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and J-V curves respectively. The absorption spectra of dyes indicate two discrete bands i.e. π – π* and ICT band. The ND4 dye exhibits best absorption of ICT band at λmax 550 nm. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed discrete oxidation and reduction peaks in ND4 and ND5 dyes while in other dyes these peaks were unclear. The photovoltaic performance of dyes was investigated by fabricating DSSCs with thin film of TiO2. The open circuit voltages of dyes were 0.45V, 0.31V, 0.34V, 0.38V, 0.34V, 0.33V while the short circuit current density values were 2.93mA/cm2, 3.38 mA/cm2, 1.65 mA/cm2, 5.41 mA/cm2, 2.53 mA/cm2 and 2.35mA/cm2 respectively. The highest light to energy conversion efficiency was of ND4=0.9% with good UV absorption and higher short circuit current density which leads to higher efficiency. Efficiency of other dyes is in the following order ND1=0.7% > ND5=0.5% > ND2=0.42% > ND6=0.4% > ND3=0.3%. Hence, Natural dye from wasted peels can be economical and eco-friendly source of dye for DSSCs.
Altaf A, Mughal TA, Iqbal Z, Ahmad S. 2017. Eco-friendly natural dyes as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). International Journal of Biosciences 11, 151-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/11.6.151-158
Aslam W, Soban M, Akhtar F, Zaffar NA. 2015. Smart meters for industrial energy conservation and efficiency optimization in Pakistan: scope, technology and applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 44, 933-943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.004
Ayalew WA, Ayele DW. 2016. Dye-sensitized solar cells using natural dyes as light harvesting materials extracted from Acanthus sennii chiovenda flowers and Euphorbia cotinifolia leaf. Journal of Science: Advanced Material and Devices 1, 488-494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsamd.2016.10.003
Bhanushali AU, Parsola AA, Yadav S, Nalini RP. 2015. Spinach and beetroot extracts as sensitizers for ZnO based DSSC. International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Management Research 2, 37-42.
Dinesh VP, Kumar RS, Sukhananazrein A, Sneha JM, Kumar PM, Biji P. 2019. Novel stainless steel based eco-friendly dye-sensitized solar cells using electrospun porous ZnO nanofibres. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects 19, 100311-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoso.2019.100311
Gratzel M. 2004. Conversion of sunlight to electric power by nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 164, 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2004.02.023
Hamadanian M, Safaei-Ghomi J, Hosseinpour M, Masoomi R, Jabbari V. 2014. Uses of new natural dye photosensitizers in fabrication of high potential dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 27, 733-739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2014.08.017
Joshua P. 2002. Photovoltaics- A path to sustainable futures. Futures 34, 663-674. https://ssrn.com/abstract=2013150
Kannan N, Vakeesan D. 2016. Solar energy for future world: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 62, 1092-1105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.022
Kim H, Bin Y, Karthick SN, Hemalatha KV, Raj JC, Venkatesan S, Park S, Vijayakumar G. 2013. Natural dye extracts from rhododendron species flowers as a photosensitizer in dye sensitized solar cells. International Journal of Electrochemical Science 8, 6734-6743.
Kumara NTRN, Lim A, Lim CM, Petra MI, Ekanayake P. 2017. Recent progress and utilization of natural pigments in dye sensitized solar cells. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 78, 301-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.075
Ludin NA, Mahmoud AMA, Mohamad AB, Kadhum AAH, Sopian K, Karim NSA. 2014. Review on the development of natural dye photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 31, 386-396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.12.001
Mahmood A, Javaid N, Zafar A, Riaz RA, Ahmed S, Razzaq S. 2014. Pakistan’s overall energy potential assessment, comparison of LNG, TAPI and IPI gas projects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 31, 182-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.11.047
Marchi LB, Monteiro ARG, Mikcha JMG, Santos AR, Chinellato MM, Marques DR, Dacome AS, Costa SC. 2015. Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity of Pomegranate peel extract (Punica granatum l.) under different drying temperatures. Chemical Engineering Transactions 44, 121-126. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1544021
Naseem I, Khan J. 2015. Impact of energy crisis on economic growth of Pakistan. International Journal of African and Asian Studies 7, 33-42.
Overland I. 2016. Energy: The missing link in globalization. Energy Research & Social Science 14, 122-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.01.009
Pervez A, Javed K, Iqbal Z, Shahzad M, Khan U, Latif H, Shah SA, Ahmad N. 2018. Fabrication and comparison of Dye-sensitized solar cells by using TiO2 and ZnO as photo electrode. Optik-International Journal of Light and Electron Optics 182, 175-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2018.12.044
Prabu KM, Anbarasan PM, Ranjitha S. 2014. Natural dye-sensitized solar cells (NDSSCs) from opuntia prickly pear dye using ZnO doped TiO2 nanoparticles by sol-gel method. International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications 4, 140-149.
Rahul, Singh PM, Bhattacharya B, Khan ZH. 2018. Environment approachable dye sensitized solar cells using abundant natural pigment based dyes with solid polymer electrolyte. Optik 165, 186-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2018.03.099
Richhariya G, Kumar A, Tekasakul P, Gupta B. 2017. Natural dyes for dye sensitized solar cell: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 69, 705-718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.198
Ruotsalainen J, Karjalainen J, Child M, Heinonen S. 2017. Culture, values, lifestyle and power in energy futures: A critical peer-to-peer vision of renewable energy. Energy Research and Social Science 34, 231-239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.08.001
Sadeghi-Kiakhani M, Tehrani-Bagha AR, Gharanjig K, Hashemi E. 2019. Use of Pomegranate peels and Walnut green husks as the green antimicrobial agents to reduce the consumption of inorganic nanoparticles on wool yarns. Journal of Cleaner Production 231, 1463-1473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.283
Senthil TS, Muthukumarasamy N, Kang M. 2014. ZnO nanorods based dye sensitized solar cells sensitized using natural dyes extracted from beetroot, rose and strawberry. Bulletin of Korean Chemical Society 35, 1050-1056. http://dx.doi.org/10.5012/bkcs.2014.35.4.1050
Shakeel S, Takala J, Shakeel W. 2016. Renewable energy sources in power generation in Pakistan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 64, 421-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.06.016
Simoncic B, Tomsic B. 2010. Structure of novel antimicrobial agents for textiles-A review. Textile Research Journal 80, 1721-1737. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517510363193
Sthel MS, Tostes JGR, Tavares JR. 2013. Current energy crisis and its economic and environmental consequences: Intense human cooperation. Natural Sciences 5, 244-252. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ns.2013.52A036
Torchani A, Saadaoui S, Gharbi R, Fathallah M. 2015. Sensitized solar cells based on natural dyes. Current Applied Physics 15, 307-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2015.01.003
Vargas FD, Jimenez AR, Lopez OP. 2000. Natural pigments; carotenoids, anthocyanins and betalains-characteristics, biosynthesis, processing and stability. Critical Review of Food Science and Nutrition 40, 173-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408690091189257
Ayesha Altaf, Tahira Aziz Mughal, Zafar Iqbal, 2019. Natural dye extracts of wasted fruit peels as photo-sensitizers for TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Int. J. Biosci., 15(5), 600-609.
Copyright © 2019 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.