Manufacture of Sensitized Grätzel Solar Cells with NPs-TiO$_{2}$ and Natural Organic Dye Purple Corn (Zea mays L.) as Potential Use in the Photovoltaic Industry

Abstract

This research carried out trials on Grätzel’s prototypes of solar cells sensitized with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-TiO$_{2}$) and natural organic purple corn dye (Zea mays L.). The specific desired outcome is to incorporate the Degussa P25 commercial NPs-TiO$_{2}$ into the Grätzel Solar Cells. Characterizing the dye employing the UV-Vis equipment and determining the efficiency of the Grätzel solar cell, a natural organic dye extracted from the ear of purple corn was diluted in an alcoholic solution. With an electrode and a liquid solution of H$_{2}$PtCl$_{6}$, a working Solar Grätzel cell is made. Therefore, it was necessary to verify the size of the solid NPs-TiO$_{2}$ by corroborating a measurement ${<}$100 nm. For the study of the purple corn dye, UV-Vis equipment was used to measure its wavelength. The results of the wavelength of purple corn have an absorption spectrum of 384–607 nm, 200–900 nm, 270–880 nm, all these values are within the value of the 465–560 nm range in which the anthocyanins are found. To check the efficiency of the Grätzel cell, an assembly of a 240 W lamp was carried out. Finally, the results of the efficiencies were 0.000107%, 0.000109%, 0.000130%, demonstrating the operation and imitation of plant photosynthesis with low manufacturing cost.