Title: Natural dye-sensitised photovoltaic cell based on nanoporous TiO₂

Authors: Khalil Ebrahim Jasim; Shawqi Al-Dallal; Awatef M. Hassan

Addresses: Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain. ' Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain. ' Department of Chemistry, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain

Abstract: We suggest that natural dye-sensitised solar cells (NDSSC) are capable of generating green energy at low production cost using safe materials attached to nanoporous layer of TiO₂. In this paper, we review the operation principles of the dye-sensitised solar cell DSSC and discuss the preparation and characterisation of Henna dyes (Lawsonia inermis L.) at different concentrations. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current were measured for cells made from different Henna extracts concentrations. We found that the open circuit voltage is almost independent of dye concentration and has a typical value of 400 mV, whereas the short circuit current varies with Henna extracts concentration. The best value of the short circuit current of 0.900 mA was obtained for moderate concentration of Henna extracts.

Keywords: nanoporous TiO2; titanium dioxide; Henna dyes; Lawsonia inermis L.; natural dye-sensitised solar cells; NDSSC; nanoparticles; Bahraini Henna; photovoltaic cells; green energy; renewable energy; Henna extracts; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2011.043498

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.359 - 368

Received: 10 Aug 2010
Accepted: 29 Oct 2010
Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

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