Effect of Light and Temperature on the Efficiency and Stability of Curcumin-Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

This study presents the results of light and temperature impact assessment on the efficiency and stability of natural dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It investigates also the impact of light and temperature on the absorbance, changes in functional groups, and the energy levels of the curcumin natural dye. The natural dyes and DSSCs were irradiated and heated at a temperature of 50°C for 0, 100, and 200 hours and examined by the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, the Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry test. The results show that the light and heat treatment at 50°C for 100 and 200 hours cause the decreasing voltage, current, and efficiency of DSSCs more than 89%. Interestingly, the DSSC with curcumin-dye subjected to heat and light treatment did not have a significant decrease in the value of fill factor (FF). It shows that the quality of the junctions in the DSSCs is good and the physical structure of DSSCs is stable. It can be stated that the performance of DSSCs decreases when subjected a light and heat treatment is due to the changes of HOMO and LUMO levels of curcumin dyes.