Stability and degradation factors of natural dyes as photosensitizer in solar cell

Solar cell is the most potential power sources as a clean and inexhaustible source that utilize solar radiation. However, the solar cell technology is facing several issues regarding the long term stability which need to be concerned and corrected. The project investigated the performance of photosensitizer dye-sensitized solar cells in terms of stability and degradation of the cell. The cell was fabricated with seven types of natural dye extract which are Rosella, Bawang Sabrang, Cherry Barbados, Mulberry, Ardisia, Oxalis Triangularis and Harum Manis mango as a photosensitizer. The pure dyes are extracted in water and ethanol with the same ratio, and applied to titanium dioxide thin film. The dyes are extracted at four different temperatures (room temperature, 50 , 75 and 100 ) to obtain the best optimum condition for the device. Based from the results, pure Rosella achieved a highest efficiency about 1.05% at room temperature, which is higher compared to the reported by Wongcharee et al., about 0.37%. After the cell have been stored for 24 hours, Mulberry show the most consistent results in both ethanol and water solvent, which indicate a criteria as stable photosensitizer. Mulberry achieved an efficiency up to 0.33% in water solvent at room temperature and 0.22% at temperature 50 (optimum temperature) with decreasing efficiency to 0.21% after 24 hours being stored with an acceptable value of current-voltage, compared to other dyes.