Effective utilization of solar energy has been one of the biggest challenges in the science community. Solar cell technology is notorious for its cost and low efficiency, prompting further research in the field. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are an economically suitable version of solar technology. DSSCs are known for their simple fabrication, eco-friendliness, flexibility, and low cost. One of the ways of optimizing DSSCs is by alternating the sensitizing pigments. The goal of this research is to examine anthocyanin-based dyes extracted from natural sources including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate, and black grapes. These dyes are applied on a mesoporous surface that is developed by spin-coating titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle suspension on an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) glass substrate.  Spin-coating titanium dioxide allows for the creation of a three-dimensional surface, which increases surface area, in turn increasing the substrate’s effectiveness. Afterward, the assembled systems are tested for photoelectrochemical activity under visible light with different intensities and different wavelengths of monochromatic light. The measurements are made using the Zahner Photoelectrochemical workstation. The obtained activities are compared to those of commercially available dyes - anthocyanidin pigment Delphinidin Chloride, and anthocyanin pigment N3 Dye. The acquired results pave way for the future development of modified anodes with the prospective usage in new photoelectrochemical energy sources.

Investigating the photoelectrochemical behavior of naturally extracted anthocyanin-based dyes

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ACS Fall 2022

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