According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are created from electricity and heat production. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer a promising renewable energy solution due to their affordability, ease of fabrication, and environmental benefits. However, their efficiency and long-term stability remain challenges that must be addressed to enable widespread adoption. This study investigates strategies to enhance DSSC performance by incorporating gelled electrolytes, optimizing natural dye combinations, and comparing carbon-based counter electrodes. Natural dyes were extracted from anthocyanins, chlorophyll, and betalains, with mixtures co-sensitized to broaden light absorption across the visible spectrum. Gelled electrolytes, fabricated using agarose, were introduced to address the drawbacks of liquid electrolytes, such as leakage and evaporation, while improving ionic conductivity and stability. Counter electrodes were prepared using candle soot and graphene, with a cost-benefit analysis revealing the economic feasibility of soot-based electrodes compared to graphene, which offers higher efficiency but at a greater expense. The DSSCs were fabricated using standardized methods to ensure consistency and tested under controlled illumination. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to analyze the redox properties and degradation rates of the dyes. Results showed that the co-sensitized dye mixtures improved absorption across broader wavelengths. Candle soot electrodes provided a cost-effective alternative with moderate efficiency, supporting the viability of low-cost DSSC production.

Reference

[1] Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data | US EPA., Environmental Protection Agency, Retrieved
from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data
[2] Cooling Power Plants, World Nuclear Association Retrieved from
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/cooling-power-plants
[3] Prajapat, K., Dhonde, M., Sahu, K., Bhojane, P., Murty, V., & Shirage, P. M., “The evolution of
organic materials for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells,” Journal of Photochemistry and
Photobiology C: Photochemistry Reviews, vol. 55, pp. 100586, 2023. .
[4] Khan, M., Iqbal, M. A., Malik, M., Hashmi, S. U. M., Bakhsh, S., Sohail, M., Qamar, M. T.,
Al-Bahrani, M., Capangpangan, R. Y., Alguno, A. C., & Choi, J. R., “Improving the efficiency of
dye-sensitized solar cells based on rare-earth metal modified bismuth ferrites,” Scientific Reports,
vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 3123, 2023.
[5] Mozaffari, S., Nateghi, M. R., & Zarandi, M. B., “An overview of the Challenges in the
commercialization of dye sensitized solar cells,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,
vol. 71, pp. 675-686, 2017.
[6] Aruchamy, K., Ramasundaram, S., Divya, S., Chandran, M., Yun, K., & Oh, T. H., “Gel Polymer
Electrolytes: Advancing Solid-State Batteries for High-Performance Applications,” in Gels, vol. 9,
no. 7, pp. 585, 2023.
[7] Boschloo, G., & Hagfelt, A., “Characteristics of the iodide/triiodide redox mediator in
dye-sensitized solar cells,” Accounts of Chemical Research, vol. 41, no. 11, pp. 1819-1826,
2009.
Cite this - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343412793_Guar_gum-based_polymer_gel_electrolyte_for_dye-sensitized_solar_cell_applications
[9] Devi, V. L., De, D., Kuchhal, P., & Pachauri, R. K., “Photovoltaic performance of TiO2 and ZnO
nanostructures in anthocyanin dye-sensitized solar cells,” Clean Energy, vol. 8, no. 5, pp.
144-156, 2024.
[10] Mahajan, U., Prajapat, K., Dhonde, M., Sahu, K., & Shirage, P. M., “Natural dyes for
dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): An overview of extraction, characterization and performance,”
Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, vol. 37, pp. 101111, 2024.
[11] Biney, J., Madou, M., Jabbour, G., & Park, J., ”2D Composite Materials for Electrodes in
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells─An Overview,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 17, no. 12,
pp. 17855-17880, 2025
[12] Liu, T., Liu, K.-T., Wang, J., Ji, X., Lan, P., Mu, Z., Pan, Y., Cheng, S., & Liu, M., “Achievement of
a polymer-free KAc gel electrolyte for advanced aqueous K-Ion battery,” Energy Storage
Materials, vol. 41, pp. 133-140, 2021.
[13] Okello, A., Owuor, B. O., Namukobe, J., Okello, D., & Mwabora, J., “Influence of concentration of
anthocyanins on electron transport in dye sensitized solar cells,” Heliyon, vol. 7, no. 3, 2021.
[14] Patni, N., Pillai, S. G., & Sharma, P., "Effect of using betalain, anthocyanin and chlorophyll dyes
together as a sensitizer on enhancing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell” International
Journal of Energy Research, vol. 44, no. 13, pp. 10846-10859, 2020.
[15] Zi, W., Jin, Z., Liu, S., & Xu, B., “Flexible perovskite solar cells based on green,
continuous roll-to-roll printing technology,” Journal of Energy Chemistry, vol. 27, no.4,
pp. 971-989, 2018.
[16] Cmditr, Youtube, Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Lab Procedure [Video], 2009. Retrieved from
https://youtu.be/Qbsl1NP5uZI?si=e_PvI5q1S-du