Construction of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell with Bouganvilla,Cordia Sebestena and Talinium Triangulare Flower

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells, are one of the most promising devices for solar energy conversion into electricity, due to their reduced production cost and low environmental impact especially those sensitized by natural dyes. In this study, three-flowers were used as sensitizer for the dye sensitized solar cell namely Bouganvillae flower (X), Cordea sebestina flower (Y) and  Talinium triangulare flower (Z). The Cold extraction method was used with acidified methanol as a solvent to extract the dye from the three samples. The outdoor energy conversion efficiency and fill factor measurement of the solar cells sensitized by Bouganvillae flower extract is 0.15% and 0.56 while the indoor values are 0.006% and 0.54 respectively. For the extract of Cordea sebestina flower, outdoor energy conversion efficiency and fill factor values of the solar cells is 0.074% and 0.85 while the indoor values are 0.0083 and 0.47 respectively. Lastly, the outdoor conversion efficiency and fill factor value of Talinium triangulare flower extract is 0.059% and 0.9 while the indoor values are 0.017% and 0.51 respectively. Comparison of the samples outdoor and indoor measurement shows that solar cell made from Bouganvillae flower has the highest efficiency and would be very useful as a natural dye for dye sensitized solar cell.

Key words: Bouganvillae flower, Cordea sebestina flower, Talinium triangulare flower, methanol