Harnessing the power of natural dyes for clean energy: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells based on plant dyes*

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as a low-cost approach to solar energy conversion. The performance of these devices is primarily influenced by the dye that is used as the sensitizer. Recent research in photovoltaics is focusing on utilizing natural dyes as a sustainable alternative to the toxic synthetic materials dominating current DSSCs. Natural dyes derived from plants are used to absorb sunlight, facilitating the generation of electricity, while promoting eco-friendly solutions and reducing the dependence on harmful chemicals used in solar cell production. This research investigates the feasibility of using natural dyes in gel electrolyte-based DSSCs.The dyes are extracted from some locally available plant sources in the Kirksville, MO area using simple wet-chemistry techniques and are characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Laboratory-scale solar cells are then fabricated and evaluated for their power conversion capabilities using current-voltage measurement and Impedance Spectroscopy. The implementation of natural dyes in DSSCs marks a promising step toward a more sustainable energy landscape.