Journal
SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS
Volume 94, Issue 1, Pages 40-44Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2009.05.013
Keywords
Dye-sensitized solar cells; Natural dyes; Carotene; TiO2; ZnO; Bixin
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We have explored the application of natural dyes extracted from the seeds of the achiote shrub (Bixa orellana L.) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The main pigments are bixin and norbixin, which were obtained by separation and purification from the dark-red extract (annatto). The dyes were characterized using H-1-NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Solar cells were prepared using TiO2 and ZnO nanostructured, mesoporous films and the annatto, bixin, and norbixin as sensitizers. The best results were obtained with bixin-sensitized TiO2 solar cells with efficiencies of up to 0.53%, illustrating the importance of purification of dyes from natural extracts. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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