Photovoltaic performance of dye sensitized solar cells based on ruthenium-620 and chlorine local due

The paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of dye sensitized solar cells using ruthenium-stained and chlorine-stained titanium (IV) oxide. Copper metallated semisynthetic chlorine dye was extracted from bahama grass. Thin films of ruthenium-stained and chlorine-stained TiO2 were deposited on transparent conducting oxide glass using the blade method. Both electrodes were found to absorb solar radiation both in the UV and VIS region, but the ruthenium-stained electrode showed a higher optical absorbance. The photoelectric energy conversion efficiency was found to be 1.7% and 1.0% for the ruthenium and chlorine-stained electrodes, respectively. The efficiency of the ruthenium-stained cell can be compared with 1.43% obtained by Suri et al.; 1.49%, 2.56%, and 3.26% obtained by Waita et al. and 1.5% recorded by Law et al. The lower conversion efficiency of the chlorine-stained solar cell could be attributed to lower injection efficiency due to less optical absorption. The values of maximum power output obtained for the three days show that the local dye can make a good photo-sensitizer but would require further treatment to improve on its optical absorbance and stability under exposure to solar irradiation. (authors)