Alkannatinctoria Barks as Organic Photo Sensitizers for Dye Sensitized TiO2 Thin Film Solar Cells.

Nano structured TiO2 thin film dye-sensitized solar cells have been fabricated using TiO2 photoelectrode sensitized using the extracts of Alkanna tinctoria barks as organic sensitizers and their characteristics have been studied. The organic extracts having Alkannin pigment, which have hydroxyl and carboxylic groups in the molecule can attach effectively to the surface of TiO2 film. The UV-Vis absorbance spectra of organic extract found to be maximum of 692 nm. The solar cell constructed using the Alkanna tinctoria barks sensitized TiO2 photo-electrode exhibited a short-circuit photocurrent of 6.08E-5A and a power conversion efficiency of 0.0971 %. Organic dye sensitized TiO2 photo electrodes present the prospect to be used as an environment-friendly, low-cost alternative system.