研究目的
Exploring prickly pear fruit extract as a natural, low cost, and environmentally friendly photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) for energy harvesting.
研究成果
The prickly pear fruit extract was confirmed as a promising natural photosensitizer for DSSC, with effective anchoring of dye molecules onto TiO2 due to hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. Despite lower efficiency compared to synthetic dyes, the high fill factor and open-circuit voltage suggest potential for improvement through optimization of various parameters.
研究不足
The conversion efficiency of the DSSC fabricated using prickly pear extract was lower than that of traditional ruthenium dye (N719). The performance could be improved by optimizing dye isolation and purification, altering dye loading duration, and pre-treatment of the photoanode.
1：Experimental Design and Method Selection
The study involved extracting photosensitizer from prickly pear fruits using ethanol as solvent. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the extract were characterized using XRD, SEM, UV-VIS-DRS, and FTIR spectra.
2：Sample Selection and Data Sources
Fully ripened prickly pear fruits without stain or bumps were selected for extracting the pulp after removing thorns and seeds. The dye solution was prepared by adding ethanol to the pulp, stirring, filtering, and centrifuging.
3：List of Experimental Equipment and Materials
Ethanol (99.9% A.R grade), P25 (TiO2) powder (Degussa Germany), Ethylcellulose, α-Terpineol (90% analytical grade), Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates, TiCl4, Acetonitrile, Iodine, 4-tert-butylpyridine, 1-butyl-3methylimadizolium iodide, Platinum paste, Surlyn spacer.
4：Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow
Mesoporous TiO2 paste was coated onto FTO substrates, annealed, treated with TiCl4, and sintered. The electrodes were soaked in prickly pear dye, washed, and used to fabricate DSSC devices with platinum-coated FTO as counter electrode and iodide-based liquid electrolyte.
5：Data Analysis Methods
The performance of DSSC was evaluated through I-V characteristics under AM 1.5G standards and electrochemical impedance measurements. The data were analyzed to determine conversion efficiency, fill factor, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current density.
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