Simulation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) Performance for Various Local Natural Dye Photosensitizers

Dye is a photosensitizer which is one of the key elements in developing high performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). However, the use of natural dyes as photosensitizers in DSSC, until now still produces much lower device efficiency compared to those from complex metal dyes or organic synthesis dyes. Therefore, research is still needed to find the efficiency of DSSC using the best variety of natural dyes. In this research, the characteristics of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been simulated using MATLAB based on TiO2 by modifying the internal parameters (Phi, tau, alpha, m, T), external, and previous DSSC research data. The simulation has been performed to determine the performance of natural dye made locally (coffee, turmeric, cocktail (coffee and turmeric), phyllanthus reticulatus poir, piper crocatum, and melaleuca leucadendra), in terms of the change due to the intensity of solar radiation and temperature by displaying the I-V and P-V curve characteristics. The simulation has produced the highest DSSC performance by using natural dye from melaleuca leucadendra with a maximum voltage, current density, and power of 0.7882 Volt, 0.0032 A/cm(2), and 0.0015 W, respectively, using a cell area of 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm. The DSSC performance also produced a higher performance when measured at 12.00 o'clock in the afternoon with a maximum power of 0.0013 W. Therefore, some of these natural dyes have indicated the high potential of becoming low-cost photosensitizer, which is available abundantly and environmentally friendly.