Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with BiFeO₃ and Natural Dyes

Maham Khan
2025-06-04
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Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to traditional solar panels by using light-absorbing dyes to generate electricity. These flexible, lightweight cells reduce production costs and environmental impact while maintaining efficiency.

Introduction to Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Renewable energy demand fuels interest in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These cells are cost-effective and eco-friendly, perfectly aligned with sustainability global goals and the mission of Green Innovation and Clean Technology. They differ from silicon-based solar cells. Efficiency remains a challenge. Photoanode materials and sensitizers limit performance. Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) has unique optical properties. It is a promising photoanode material. This study explores BiFeO₃ nanoparticles.

Researchers synthesize pure and rare-earth doped forms, using neodymium (Nd), gadolinium (Gd), and praseodymium (Pr) as dopants. The study aims to enhance light-harvesting and improve electron transport. The team tests natural dyes from mint (Mentha) and kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), alongside malachite green as the synthetic dye. Optimizing dye-photoanode pairing targets higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Infographic of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Methodology for High-Efficiency DSSCs

Synthesis of BiFeO₃ Photoanodes

Researchers synthesize BiFeO₃ nanoparticles via co-precipitation, a simple and scalable method. They add rare-earth elements during synthesis to produce Nd-, Gd-, and Pr-doped BiFeO₃ nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the crystalline structure of undoped BiFeO₃, while doped samples shift toward amorphous, indicating successful dopant integration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals particle sizes from 5 to 50 nm. Nd-doped particles, the smallest at 5–30 nm, enhance dye adsorption in dye-sensitized solar cells. UV–Vis spectroscopy shows a red shift in doped samples. The narrowed bandgap improves light-harvesting potential for better performance.

DSSC Fabrication Process

The team processes nanoparticles into a paste and coats it onto conductive substrates to form photoanodes. They sensitize photoanodes with dyes from Mentha, Actinidia deliciosa, or malachite green. Sensitized photoanodes are assembled with a counter electrode and electrolyte to complete the solar cells. Current-voltage (I–V) measurements assess photovoltaic performance.

Results of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Performance

The study tests twelve dye-sensitized solar cells with varied photoanode-dye combinations. Rare-earth doped BiFeO₃ outperforms pure BiFeO₃. Nd-doped BiFeO₃ paired with Mentha dye achieves a PCE of 2.15%. Smaller particle sizes aid dye adsorption, and Mentha’s functional groups enhance light absorption. Actinidia deliciosa yields PCEs of 0.86–1.87%, while malachite green records 0.84–0.98%. Natural dyes surpass synthetic dyes, with Mentha showing superior photon absorption. Mentha-based DSSCs achieve short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 1.01–2.53 mA/cm² and fill factor (FF) of 0.82–0.89. These metrics reflect efficient charge separation. Despite lacking photostability, natural dyes’ eco-friendly nature supports further research.

Evaluation of DSSC Efficiency Factors

Multiple factors influence dye-sensitized solar cells performance. Photoanode properties play a critical role. Rare-earth doping boosts dye loading and light absorption, but trap states from doping affect charge transport. Optimal doping reduces recombination, while excessive doping increases losses. Mentha dye binds strongly to photoanodes, capturing more photons effectively. Doped BiFeO₃’s high refractive index improves light scattering. A narrowed bandgap shifts absorption to longer wavelengths, enhancing charge generation. Electron-trapping in doped BiFeO₃ reduces recombination. Structural and optical properties impact voltage and fill factor. Interface quality and temperature also affect efficiency.

Future Innovations for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Natural dyes need improved stability, as sunlight, moisture, and heat cause degradation. Encapsulation or molecular engineering can enhance durability. Optimizing rare-earth dopants remains crucial, and co-doping may reduce recombination losses. Researchers should explore new natural dyes with broader spectral absorption and higher molar extinction coefficients. Flexible DSSC show promise for next-generation photovoltaics. Transparent designs are gaining interest. Scalable fabrication requires uniformity to ensure commercial viability. These advancements align with sustainable energy solutions of Sustainability Global, driving adoption of photovoltaic cells.

Author Bio

Maham Khan holds an MPhil in Chemistry with distinction from Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan. Her research focuses on nanomaterials, rare-earth metal oxides, and their applications in renewable energy, particularly dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). She has published in high-impact international journals and brings valuable experience as a lecturer and laboratory researcher. Maham is deeply passionate about pursuing higher studies and contributing to advanced research in sustainable energy. She actively participates in national and international conferences and is committed to academic excellence in the fields of nanochemistry and photovoltaics.

Original Article

Khan, M., Iqbal, M.A., Malik, M. et al. Improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells based on rare-earth metal modified bismuth ferrites. Sci Rep 13, 3123 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30000-8