EFFECT OF MANGOSTEEN PERICARP DYE SENSITIZATION PERIOD ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF TIO2/P3HT HYBRID THIN FILMS FOR SOLID-STATE DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJIREV.826026Keywords:
Dye Loading, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell, Electrical Conductivity, Garcinia Mangostana L., Immersion Period, MorphologyAbstract
The effect of the sensitization period of mangosteen pericarp (Garcinia mangostana L.) dye on the morphological and electrical properties of TiO₂/P3HT hybrid thin film for solid-state DSSC application is studied. The dye solution extracted is yellowish red in color, consisting of anthocyanin and α-mangostin as the photosensitizers, which can absorb visible light and be used as natural sensitizing compounds for DSSC applications. Electrodeposition of TiO₂ thin films was conducted on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate by an electrochemical method with 3 scans. Afterwards, they were dipped in the natural dye for periods of 5, 10, 15, and 20 min to ascertain the optimum immersion time. The SEM examination of the morphology of the TiO₂ thin films at a 5000× magnification and 15 kV accelerating voltage showed clear differences revealing the changes in the structure and uniformity of the films at different immersion times. The obtained results highlighted that immersion time influenced the charge-transfer efficiency, with shorter times producing homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles, while longer times caused particle aggregation. Under light conditions, the highest electrical conductivity (0.044 S cm⁻¹) of mangosteen pericarp dye was obtained at a 10-min sensitization time. SEM analysis indicated that the 5-min and 10-min samples had relatively similar morphologies, which could be conducive to charge transport, while longer sensitization periods (15–20 min) led to increased porosity and particle aggregation. In general, the best immersion time for the surface morphology and electrical conductivity parameters relevant to DSSC properties is 10 min. In short, the morphology and electrical conductivity of the hybrid thin film were influenced by the immersion period.
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