Enhanced efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing natural dyes: a breakthrough with FTO/TiO₂/Nd₂Ru₂O₇/hibiscus configuration

This study reports the fabrication and characterization of Nd₂Ru₂O₇ (NRO) pyrochlore-based dye-sensitized solar cell. This new photovoltaic cell uses a new stack material Glass/FTO/TiO₂/Nd₂Ru₂O₇/hibiscus/Pt/FTO/Glass. Nd₂Ru₂O₇ pyrochlore oxide was elaborated as mesoporous nanoparticles dispersed in dimethylformamide (DMF) and deposited via spin coating onto the compact TiO₂ compact layer previously deposited on FTO-coated glass substrate. Hibiscus sabdariffa was used as absorbent dye on the NRO photoanode. The optical properties of the films showed highly performance of absorbance ~ 70% and transmittance below ~ 50%. Dye-impregnated photoanodes have a high absorbance that covers the visible spectral range (360 nm–1000 nm). These assembled photoanode materials give an open-circuit voltage V_oc of 2.86 V. The efficiency of the natural dye solar cell (DSSC-N) with the new NRO photoanode increased by a factor of 1.35 compared with the simple TiO₂-based solar cell. The assembled cell, subsequent to the introduction of hibiscus dye and the I⁻/I³⁻ electrolyte, yielded compelling outcomes: a V_oc of 2.86 V, an efficiency of 10.24%, a short-circuit current density of 6.5 mA/cm² in the dark, and 8.5 mA/cm² under illumination. Importantly, all these findings are original, showcasing the effectiveness of our novel approach in enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.