Natural Basil as Photosensitizer with ZnO Thin Films for Solar Cell Applications

ABSTRACT

The hybrid solar cell has been fabricated using natural dye extracted from basil or ocimum leaves and ZnO thin film. The extracted natural dye was deposited on ZnO thin films and dried at room temperature. The semiconductor layer of ZnO was fabricated on FTO-coated glass substrate using magnetron sputtering with a thickness of 500 nm. A photocathode was prepared from the Au–Pd mixture using sputtering for a top electrode. ZnO has been confirmed using X-ray diffraction and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy measurements. The photovoltaic characteristics of the prepared DSSCs were studied by measuring the I–V characteristics under the illumination of halogen light. Photocurrent and photovoltage both are increased in the cell. The value of short-circuit current (I_sc), open-circuit voltage (V_oc), and photon energy conversion efficiency (η) were calculated for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). DSSCs provide the promising light to electrical energy conversion efficiency due to their low-cost fabrication, environmentally friendly elements, and low maintenance. DSSC offers transparent solar cell modules with the capabilities of the use of hybrid composition such as organic and inorganic materials. The basil/ZnO-based hybrid devices can also be useful for photoelectrochemical cell and water splitting applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Basil
• Natural dye
• Solar cell
• Thin film
• ZnO

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, for providing Non-NET fellowship to TS. The authors would like to express special thanks to Mr Sagar Agrawal of Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technology, Gandhinagar, for providing sputtering and X-ray diffraction facility. The authors are also thankful to Dr J. H. Markna for providing time-dependent I–V testing facility.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tulshi Shiyani

Tulshi Shiyani is a research scholar in School of Nanosciences at the Central University of Gujarat, India. He has been working in the area of solar energy conversion devices. Email: [email protected]

S. K. Mahapatra

Santosh Mahapatra is head and associate professor in School of Basic and Applied Sciences at the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. He has been working in solid-state electronic and optical devices. Email: [email protected]

Indrani Banerjee

Indrani Banerjee is dean and associate professor in School of Nanosciences at the Central University of Gujarat, India. She has been working in nanoscience and nanotechnology.