The preparation of dye sensitized solar cells using natural dyes extracted from Phytolacca icosandra and Phyllanthus reticulatus with ZnO as photoanode

Dye sensitized solar cells are promising class of photovoltaic cells with the capability of generating green energy at low production cost since no expensive equipment is required in their fabrication. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were synthesized by hydrothermal method and their performance as photoanodes in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with dye extracts from fruits of Phytolacca icosandra and Phyllanthus reticulatus as sensitizers was analyzed. Detailed structural and surface characterization of the ZnO nanorods were accomplished using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). XRD results revealed that the synthesized ZnO material exhibited hexagonal crystal structure which was found to be highly stable and crystallite. The dye extracts were subjected to UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. The short-circuit photocurrent; the open-circuit photovoltage, and the power conversion efficiency of DSSC were measured using J-V measurement system.