The Effect of Dye Extract Purification on the Performance of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Anthocynanins and anthocyanidins have been widely applied in various fields such as sensitizers in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). DSSCs provide an alternative to the present photovoltaic technology due to its numerous advantages such as flexibility, easy fabrication, semitransparency and colour tunability. In this study, comparative analysis between crude and purified extracts obtained from withered leaves and flowers of Euphorbia mili (crown of thorns) as organic sensitisers in DSSCs. The optical and photovoltaic properties of the extracts was examined using an ultraviolet (UV) spectroscope and solar simulator respectively. There were observed shifts in the wavelength of the absorptions at (350 – 380 nm) for both extracts (crude and purified). The results from the photovoltaic parameters indicate an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the crude extract of the flower at 2.72%.