Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Based on Flower-like ZnO Nanoparticles as Photoanode and Natural Dye as Photosensitizer

Abstract

In this paper was reported the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cell utilizing flower-like ZnO nanoparticle as photoanode and natural dye (anthocyanin) extracted from Lampeni (Ardisia humilis Vahl) fruit as photosensitizer. Anthocyanin dye extracted from Lampeni (Ardisia humilis Vahl) fruit shows a wide range of absorption spectra covering from 400 nm to 600 nm, which suitable for application as sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cell. Flower-like ZnO was synthesized by precipitation method from mixed solution of zinc acetate dihydrate and KOH. X-ray diffraction analysis of ZnO was found a hexagonal structure with lattice parameters a = b = 3.25 Ǻ and c = 5.21 Ǻ, while average crystal size (ACS) was found 23.403 nm. The observation by SEM shows a flower-like structure arranged from ZnO nanorods. Optical absorption spectra of ZnO shows a strong absorption under 350 nm, and sharp absorption transition occurs around 350 nm from which the bandgap energy of ZnO was determined. Using Tauc plot method, bandgap energy of ZnO was found 3.2 eV. The assembled solar cell has energy conversion efficiency about of 0.03 % with fill factor of 0.25 and maximum power output of 12.8 μWatt.