Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cells of Ocium Lamifolium and Tagets Patula Based on Metal Oxide Nanocomposite in Quasi Solid State Electrolyte

Abstract

Nanocomposite of Sn-Zn oxide from their respective precursor salts was prepared by impregnation method. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by UV-Vis to estimate optical absorption and energy band gaps and X-ray Diffraction to determine particle size. Absorption spectra of the natural dyes were measured and both ethanol extracts of natural pigments absorbs in the visible region. Morphology of the as-synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-ray for elemental analysis. The solar energy conversion efficiency of the as-synthesized nanocomposite sensitized by the natural dyes of Ocium Lamifolium and Tagets Patula extracted by ethanol were measured. The best device parameter was achieved by the ethanol extract of Tagets Patula and SnO₂/ZnO nanocomposite semiconductor. The percent incident to photon conversion efficiency of the sensitized nanocomposite was measured at light intensity of 100 mW/cm² with highest value 9.30 at 320 nm the highest value percent of fill factor was 65.25 by SnO₂/ZnO semiconductor and Tagets Patula dye.

Keywords: semiconductor, impregnation, natural dye, dye sensitized solar cells.