Abstract:
Today every country faces energy crises; so to overcome it, a number
of solutions are given to progress towards solar energy which is rich
and free to use. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) technology comes
from the concept of “artificial photosynthesis”, attempting to replicate
plants ability to convert solar energy into useful energy. It represents
a totally new photovoltaic technology with great potential. DSSC has
been considered as the best substitute for traditional silicon-based
solar cells, for their compatibility with low-cost manufacture methods
and the high indoor efficiency. Natural dyeing is of great importance
in the field of solar energy, thanks to its modest production and low
production cost. In this research, we investigated the performance of
DSSCs using a natural dye extracted from the nopal as a sensitizer
for the photoanode titanium oxide/zinc oxide. Surface morphology
was calculated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X ray
diffraction (XRD). Finally, the solar photovoltaic characterization of
the solar cell was studied using the I–V characteristics.
