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Biophotovoltaics: Natural pigments in dye-sensitized solar cells

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  • Hug, Hubert
  • Bader, Michael
  • Mair, Peter
  • Glatzel, Thilo

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which are also called Graetzel cells are a novel type of solar cells. Their advantages are mainly low cost production, low energy payback time, flexibility, performance also at diffuse light and multicolor options. DSSCs become more and more interesting since a huge variety of dyes including also natural dyes can be used as light harvesting elements which provide the charge carriers. A wide band gap semiconductor like TiO2 is used for charge separation and transport. Such a DSSC contains similarities to the photosynthetic apparatus. Therefore, we summarize current available knowledge on natural dyes that have been used in DSSCs which should provide reasonable light harvesting efficiency, sustainability, low cost and easy waste management. Promising natural compounds are carotenoids, polyphenols and chlorophylls.

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  • Hug, Hubert & Bader, Michael & Mair, Peter & Glatzel, Thilo, 2014. "Biophotovoltaics: Natural pigments in dye-sensitized solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 216-225.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:115:y:2014:i:c:p:216-225
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.10.055
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    2. Khan, M.Z.H. & Al-Mamun, M.R. & Halder, P.K. & Aziz, M.A., 2017. "Performance improvement of modified dye-sensitized solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 602-617.
    3. Hosseinnezhad, Mozhgan & Gharanjig, Kamaladin & Moradian, Siamak & Saeb, Mohammad Reza, 2017. "In quest of power conversion efficiency in nature-inspired dye-sensitized solar cells: Individual, co-sensitized or tandem configuration?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 864-870.
    4. Jaafar, Siti Nur Hidayah & Minggu, Lorna Jeffery & Arifin, Khuzaimah & Kassim, Mohammad B. & Wan, Wan Ramli Daud, 2017. "Natural dyes as TIO2 sensitizers with membranes for photoelectrochemical water splitting: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 698-709.
    5. Shalini, S. & Balasundara prabhu, R. & Prasanna, S. & Mallick, Tapas K. & Senthilarasu, S., 2015. "Review on natural dye sensitized solar cells: Operation, materials and methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1306-1325.
    6. Richhariya, Geetam & Kumar, Anil & Tekasakul, Perapong & Gupta, Bhupendra, 2017. "Natural dyes for dye sensitized solar cell: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 705-718.
    7. Kumara, N.T.R.N. & Lim, Andery & Lim, Chee Ming & Petra, Mohamad Iskandar & Ekanayake, Piyasiri, 2017. "Recent progress and utilization of natural pigments in dye sensitized solar cells: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 301-317.
    8. Devadiga, Dheeraj & Selvakumar, Muthu & Shetty, Prakasha & Santosh, Mysore Sridhar, 2022. "The integration of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells and storage devices towards wearable self-charging power systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    9. Maddah, Hisham A. & Aryadwita, Lila & Berry, Vikas & Behura, Sanjay K., 2021. "Perovskite semiconductor-engineered cascaded molecular energy levels in naturally-sensitized photoanodes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Fischer, Fabian, 2018. "Photoelectrode, photovoltaic and photosynthetic microbial fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 16-27.

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