Department of Physics, Madonna University, Elele, Nigeria; Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Ozuomba, J.O., Department of Physics, Madonna University, Elele, Nigeria; Ekpunobi, A.J., Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; Ekwo, P.I., Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
The paper reports on the fabrication and characterisation of a dye sensitized solar cells using chlorin (Ch)-stained titanium (iv) oxide (TiO 2). A second bare or plain cell which serves as a control was fabricated using unstained TiO 2. The chlorine dye was extracted from bahama grass. Thin films of Ch-strained TiO 2 and unstained TiO 2 were deposited on transparent conducting oxide glass using the blade method. The Ch-stained electrode was found to absorb solar radiation both in the UV and VIS region. The photoelectric energy conversion efficiency was found to be 1.00% and 0.03% for Ch-stained and bare electrodes respectively. The diurnal variation of output power for both cells was carried out for three days. The efficiency of the stained cell can be compared with 1.43% obtained by Suri et al and 1.5% recorded by Law et al. Results of the hourly output power obtained for the three days revealed that the local dye can make a good photo sensitizer but would require further treatment to improve on its optical absorbance and stability under exposure to solar irradiation.