Fabrication and comparison of dye-sensitized solar cells by using TiO2 and ZnO as photo electrode

Abstract Five natural dyes were extracted from the peels of Malus domestica , Punica granatum , Phoenix dactylifera , Raphanus sativus and Solanum melongena by maceration in methanol for application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Their photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties were investigated. Thin layers of nano materials ZnO and TiO 2 were deposited on FTO glasses by doctor’s blade technique. These films were dipped in the dye solution bath for twenty-four hours. The results verified that Solanum melongena dye has better efficiency 1.10% as compared to other dyes. We also investigated that TiO 2 is a better photoelectrode as compared to ZnO. By using Solanum melongena andTiO 2 nanoparticles we found 1.10% efficiency and 0.67% by using ZnO as photoelectrode. The results indicate that TiO 2 is a better photoelectrode as compare to ZnO. Lower efficiency of the natural dyes as compared to synthetic dyes may be due to lower active contents for DSSCs.