37th Annual Student Research Conference
Green Alternatives for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Utilizing Natural Dyes to Harness Sustainable Energy
Navin Bhattarai
Dr. Rasanjali Jayathissa, Faculty Mentor
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are gaining attention as cost-efficient photovoltaic technology. A dye used as a sensitizer mainly determines its performance. This research investigates the feasibility of using Plant-based natural dyes as alternatives to toxic Metal complex sensitizers used in current DSSCs.Natural dyes are extracted from various plant components, including fruits, flower petals, roots, barks, and leaves, which are obtained in the form of anthocyanin and betalain pigments. These dyes undergo UV-visible spectroscopy characterization, while laboratory-level solar cells are fabricated and subjected to current-voltage measurement to investigate their power conversion efficiency. This research lays the groundwork for further exploration of natural dye-based solar cells.
Keywords: Sustainable energy, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Natural Dyes, UV-visible spectroscopy
Topic(s):Physics
Chemistry
Environmental Studies
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 3-6
Location: SUB Activities Room
Time: 4:15