A novel approach for the development of bio-sensitized solar cell using cell lysate of a haloarchaeon Halostagnicola larsenii RG2.14 (MCC 2809) containing bacteriorhodopsin

[Display omitted] •Use of Bacteriorhodopsin containing haloarchaeal cell mass as a source of energy.•Halostagnicola larsenii cell lysate used to prepare bio-sensitized solar cell (BSSC).•Cell lysate prepared using ethanol enhanced photoelectric performance of BSSC.•First report of use of Halostagnicola larsenii cell lysate for preparation of BSSC. Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) present in the cell membrane of haloarchaea and capable of converting light energy into electrical energy is being explored as biosensitizer in bio-sensitized solar cells (BSSC). The haloarchaeon, Halostagnicola larsenii RG2.14 (MCC 2809) containing bacteriorhodopsin (BR), was used to prepare BSSC. The cell lysate of the culture containing BR was immobilized on TiO2 nanocrystalline films. The BSSC was characterized for photoelectric performance, UV–visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and chronopotentiometry-chronoamperometry. Studies on the parameters like the use of ethanol for the cell lysate preparation resulted in the maximum open-circuit voltage of 0.52 V, short circuit photocurrent density of 120 μA/cm2 fill factor of 0.54 and overall efficiency of 0.11%. The present investigation indicates that the BR containing haloarchaeal culture cell lysate could be used in the preparation of BSSC.