Effect of extracting solvents on the stability and performances of dye-sensitized solar cell prepared using extract from Lawsonia Inermis

Abstract

Reddish-brown anthocyanins from Henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis) extracted in ethanol (A) and mixture of Ethanol and water in the ratio 4:1 by volume (B) were employed as TiO2 dye-sensitizers. Solar cells sensitized by extracts A achieved up to Jsc 1.870 mAcm−2, Voc 0.61V, FF 0.58 and η 0.66%, while for extract B sensitized cells the values determined were Jsc 1.35 mAcm−2, Voc 0.59V, FF 0.65 and η 0.52%. Long period stability in efficiency of the cells investigated revealed a drastic degradation of 13.64% in the efficiency of cell prepared using A