Synergistic impact of magnesium compound as a potential dye additive for organic-based sensitizer in DSSCs

• Published in: Materials Today Communications
• Main Authors: Khan A.A., Abdullah M.H., Rahman M.F.A., Syarifah Adilah M.Y., Mamat M.H., Radzol A.R.M., Md Sin N.D., Sabani N., Banu I.B.S., Rusop M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85145253200&doi=10.1016%2fj.mtcomm.2022.105259&partnerID=40&md5=890a96f02a6d7aefa84a8a3f42e6d4ad

This study investigates the MgSO4 salt compound as the dye additive for dye treatment in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The properties of the chlorophyll-based dye molecule sensitizer extracted from Mitragyna speciosa (MS) under the treatment of MgSO4 additive that contributed to the highest power conversion efficiency, PCE were examined. Field emission scanning electron micrograph, FESEM, X-ray diffraction, XRD, Fourier transform-IR, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, current to voltage characteristics, I-V and incidence photon to current efficiency, IPCE were used to investigate the structural, optical, chemical and also the electrical properties of the DSSC cells and their components. It was discovered that the extracted MS dye contained chlorophyll pigment, a powerful light-harvesting pigment required for the production of charge transfer and electricity. The MgSO4-treated dye provides stable pH conditions, faster electron injection due to higher band energy, Eg position, higher dye molecules adsorption, and reduced back recombination of electrons in the fabricated DSSC. As a result, all of the treated MgSO4 dye cell DSSCs outperformed the untreated dye cell, and at their optimal dye additive of 0.3 g (3-TM), the DSSC's current density, JSC, and associated PCE were higher at 2.08 mA/cm2 and 0.39%, respectively. Thus, using MS as a dye sensitizer in conjunction with an optimized MgSO4 compound as an additive resulted in improved photovoltaic effects, increased solar light absorption, and improved photon energy utilization. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd