Electrical and photovoltaic characterisations of methyl red dye doped solid-state photoelectrochemical cell

Abstract

In this work, we have reported the electrical and photovoltaic properties of methyl red dye sensitised photoelectrochemical cell. Here, we have explored the possibility of using methyl red dye in photovoltaic devices. The dye was dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol used as an inert polymer binder and polyethylene oxide complexed with lithium perchlorate ion salt as a solid electrolyte. Ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate are used as plasticisers. A thin film of this blend is sandwiched between two electrodes, one of which is indium tin oxide coated glass plate and another is aluminium. The active area of the cell is 0.04 cm². By analysing dark I–V characteristics, trap energy is estimated in the order of 0.053 eV. The photovoltaic parameters such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, fill factor and power conversion efficiency of the cell have been calculated to be 368 mV, 410 nA, 0.349 and 1.24%, respectively. The photovoltaic currents were measured with different intensity.