Performance test of Zn-astaxanthin complex-sensitized solar cell: effect of light intensity on open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current values

• Published in: Turkish journal of chemistry Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 210 - 217
• Main Authors: Septiani, Septiani, Rahmalia, Winda, Usman, Thamrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 01.01.2024
• Subjects: sensitizer; Astaxanthin; solar cell; stability; complex
• ISSN: 1300-0527; 1300-0527; 1303-6130
• DOI: 10.55730/1300-0527.3653

The sensitizer is one of the most essential dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) components. In the present research, a Zn-astaxanthin complex was investigated as a sensitizer, compared to pure astaxanthin. The complex with a 1:1 mole ratio between astaxanthin and Zn was synthesized in a reflux reactor at 37-60 °C. The product was analyzed using Proton Nuclear Resonance ( H-NMR), which indicates the presence of chelate formation between Zn with two atoms of oxygen on the terminal cyclohexane ring of astaxanthin. The interaction of sensitizers (astaxanthin and Zn-astaxanthin) on the photoelectrode surface in this study was analyzed using a Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and Ultraviolet-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The FTIR spectra of photoelectrode immersed in Zn-astaxanthin show peaks of C=O stretching and vibration -OH group at 1730 and 1273 cm , respectively, and H-C-H stretching vibration with high intensity in 2939, 2923, and 2853 cm . The UV-Vis DRS analysis shows the band gap of photoelectrode (PE), photoelectrode immersed in astaxanthin (PE/astaxanthin), and Zn-astaxanthin (PE/Zn-astaxanthin) are 3.19, 1.65, and 1.59 eV, respectively. Under illumination intensity of 300 W/m , the maximum energy conversion efficiency of DSSC with Zn-astaxanthin as sensitizer is (0.03 ± 0.0022)%, higher than DSSC with astaxanthin as sensitizer ((0.12 ± 0.0052)%). Up to 70 h of illumination, DSSC with Zn-astaxanthin as a sensitizer also has better stability than astaxanthin-based DSSC.