Photovoltaic Characterization of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Triarylmethane Dyes as Photosensitizers

Dye sensitized solar cells were fabricated using triarylmethane dyes i.e., rosaniline hydrochloride, new fuchsine and solochrome cyanine R on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. TiO2 nanoparticles layer was used as photo anode electrode and quaternary ammonium iodide salts(R4N+I-)/KI with iodine(I-2) were used as redox electrolyte (I-/I-3(-)) in acetonitrile solvent. Sensitization activity of the triarylmethane dyes in terms of current potential (I-V) curve, open-circuit voltage (V-oc), fill factor(FF) and overall solar energy conversion efficiency (n) were determined. Short-circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) and open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) depend strongly on the nature of electrolyte. Maximum value of J(sc) was found in solochrome cyanine R i.e., 3.42 mA cm(-2) with combination of tetrapropylquaternaryammonium iodide and iodine electrolyte. Highest value of V-oc (0.318 V) was observe with new fuchsine dye and KI-I-2 electrolyte. Band gap of dyes was found in order i.e., rosaniline hydrochloride (2.11 eV) > new fuchsine (1.938 eV) > solochrome black-T (1.725 eV). The contribution of these dyes as light harvesting species are analyzed with photocurrent action of these fabricated cells which could be suitably used as promising candidates for high performance of various dye sensitized solar cells.