Natural sunlight-irradiated Rhodamine B dye sensitised and surfactant-enhanced photogalvanic solar power and storage

With the rapid commercialisation of wind and solar power generation, the need of power storage capacity is gaining importance. The photogalvanic cells as described in the present manuscript provide a route for simultaneous solar power generation and its storage. These cells have been extensively studied at artificial and low intensity sunlight. The Rhodamine B dye sensitiser with Fructose reductant is reported to have shown high electrical output at low intensity. But, these cells have to show very high electrical output that too at natural sun intensity for becoming practically significant and applicable in daily life. Therefore, the present study of photogalvanics of Rhodamine B dye photosensitiser with Fructose as reductant and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) as surfactant in alkaline medium has been done to see their workable feasibility in natural sunlight with investigation for optimal fabrication parameters leading to further enhancement in electrical performance of these cells. The greatly enhanced optimum cell performance has been observed at optimal cell fabrication parameters. The cell has been found workable in natural sunlight. The optimum cell performance in terms of maximum power, short-circuit current, open-circuit potential, efficiency and storage capacity (as half change time) is of the order of 620.1 mu W, 2400 mu A, 1017 mV, 7.75%, and 142 min, respectively.

Automated summary

With the rapid growth of wind and solar power generation, the importance of power storage capacity has increased. Photogalvanic cells have been studied under artificial and low intensity sunlight, showing promise with the use of Rhodamine B dye sensitiser and Fructose reductant. However, further enhancement in electrical performance is needed for practical application in daily life, with current optimal cell performance showing potential in natural sunlight.