Natural dye sensitizer from cassava (Manihot utilissima) leaves extract and its adsorption onto TiO2 photo-anode

摘要

Interaction between TiOa and dyes sensitizer have been studied. The chlorophyll presents in the crude leave extract (CLE-dye) from cassava (Manihot utilissima) was immobilized on to the photo-anode, consists of TiCb supported by fluor doped Tin oxide (SnO2-F) Glass. The TiO2 was prepared by Rapid Breakdown Anodization (RBA) method then immobilized on to glass coated by SnO2-F using doctor blade technique, to give CLE-dye/TiO2/SnO2-F/Glass photo-anode. The prepared photo-anode was characterized by UV-Vis-DRS, FTIR, XRD, SEM, electrochemical and spectro-electrochemical systems. In this study, the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy level of the CLE-dye were empirically determined by cyclic voltammetry method, while spectro-electro-chemistry method was used to determine the coefficient of degradation and formation of the dyes, and diffusion coefficient of the hole recombination as well. Good anchoring between TiO2 with dye extracts (CLE-dye) can be seen from value of dye LUMO energy level (-4.26 eV), which is approaching the conduction band of TiO2 (-4.3 eV). The coefficient of degradation and formation of the CLE-dye showed a quasi reversible and diffusion coefficient hole recombination values were small, indicated that it is quite suitable as a sensitizer in a dyes sensitized solar cell.