Characterization and Treatment of Titanium Dioxide via Ultrasonic Process with Melastoma malabathricum as Sustainable Sensitizer for Photovoltaic Solar Cell

Autor: Anika Zafiah M. Rus, Nur Munirah Abdullah, M. F. L. Abdullah
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Chemistry, Vol 2013 (2013)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2090-9063
2090-9071
DOI: 10.1155/2013/251741
Popis: Generation from the existing commercial devices costs about ten times more than the conventional methods. Therefore, this paper presents a thin-film dyed solar cell (DSC) of natural dyes from Melastoma malabathricum fruits which consist of the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups of anthocyanin molecule that influences the performance of photosensitized effect due to its bound on the surface of filler. Experimental results comparing engineering grade (>99% purity) of metal oxide; U1 and U2 with treated metal oxide; U3 and U4 using ultrasonic process, which is to break the particle agglomeration from 0.37 μm down to 0.15 μm; this treatment led to a more “sponge-like” consistency with high porosity, enabling enhanced absorption and anchorage of the dye sensitizer. The microstructures of metal oxide were observed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Along with the highest performance of I-V measurement given by U4 with open circuit, Voc = 0.742 V, short circuit, Isc = 0.36 mA, fill factor, FF = 57.012 gives 0.039% efficiency the examples for the first outdoor application upon sunlight illumination of such DSC were also reported. Therefore, this ultrasonic treatment and novel dye from Melastoma malabathricum fruit are reliable to be used for further application.
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