Study on Making a Prototype Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) as an Alternative Electric Energy Source

Sunlight as a potential renewable energy source is an ideal solution to meet the increasing electricity needs. Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) is an environmentally friendly solar cell because it uses dye organic matter. The purpose of this study was to make a DSSC prototype and examine the effect of dye types and the concentration and thickness of TiO₂ layers on the DSSC voltage produced. Solar cells are devices that convert sunlight radiation into electrical energy. Solar cells use a photo-electric effect from semiconductor materials so they can collect solar radiation and convert it into electrical energy. Today, one of the solar cells developed is DSSC which uses electrolytes as an electron transportation medium. DSSC consists of TiO₂ nanopores, dye molecules adsorbed on the surface of TiO₂, and electrolyte solutions which are all deposited between two conductive glass. In this study, a prototype of DSSC was carried out using organic materials from the extraction of dragon fruit, orange fruits and darker colored mustard greens. Dye extract is adsorbed by TiO₂ nanopores which have been deposited into conductive glass (TCO). Carbon is used as a counter-electrode, then an electrolyte solution is added when both conductive glass has been assembled in the form of a sandwich. Based on the experimental results, the greater the concentration of TiO₂, the greater the power obtained. The greater the thickness of TiO₂, the greater the power obtained, and the variable type of dye that has been studied obtained greater power found in the type of dye from dragon fruit.