Obtención de pigmentos a base de huito y evaluación de su eficiencia como sensibilizadores en celdas solares

Abstract

Currently the Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSCs) are an alternative to conventional cells based on silicon, due to a low cost and availability of raw materials. In this project, the DSSCs were fabricated using dyes synthesized from Genipin and primary amino acids, glycine and tyrosine. Genipin was extracted from green fruits of Genipa Americana L., picked in Sucumbíos province. The extract was purified with chloroform, obtaining two phases: pure genipin and the “blue phase” or natural dye, which is genipin reacted with amino acids present in the fruit. The genipin-based dyes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Synthesized pigments showed absorption spectra around 590 nm and thermal stability up to 100 °C. Finally, the energy conversion efficiency of genipin-based dye sensitized solar cells were evaluated, obtaining results similar to other natural-dye sensitized solar cells. The synthesized-dye solar cells have efficiencies ten times higher than the natural dye (blue phase) solar cells.