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Comparative studies of the longan leaf pigment extraction as a photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells’ purpose

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Abstract

Renewable energy is the main key to production, long-term environmental sustainability, and safe and inexhaustible energy source. One of the interesting devices of renewable energy that has received considerable attention as an alternative technology is dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which is considered the third generation of solar cells. These solar cells can convert solar radiation into electric current by using natural pigments as sensitizers by using natural pigments in the regulation of solar energy, which is similar to the photosynthesis process of the plant. Thus, this study results recommend that the fresh longan extraction method (original) has the highest pigment extraction yields of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoids that were 88.055 ± 0.424 μg/ml, 26.178 ± 0.343 μg/ml, and 16.307 ± 0.564 μg/ml, respectively, and suitable for preparation as a photosensitizer for the DSSC production. Dye addition to semiconductor improves the basicity of titanium dioxide (TiO2), leading to enhanced dye adsorption and UV–vis spectroscopy measurements confirmed. Dye absorption range is 400–700 nm visible on a solar spectrum and significant adsorption onto the semiconductor surface. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis described that the extract encourages the formation of large crystals of the dye into the layers of TiO2. Therefore, the use of these extracts would increase efficiency and reduce production costs for the manufacture of DSSC.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledged the School of Renewable Energy, Program in Biotechnology, Energy Research Center and the Department of Graduate Studies, Office of Academic Administration and Development, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the research fund and facilities to accomplish this experimental study. The authors also thank Center of Excellence in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand for additional experimental support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Renewable Energy, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, 50290, Thailand

    Phitchaphorn Khammee & Rameshprabu Ramaraj

  2. Sustainable Resources and Sustainable Engineering Research Lab, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, 50290, Thailand

    Phitchaphorn Khammee, Yuwalee Unpaprom & Rameshprabu Ramaraj

  3. Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, 50290, Thailand

    Yuwalee Unpaprom

  4. Center of Excellence in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Kanda Whangchai

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  1. Phitchaphorn Khammee
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  2. Yuwalee Unpaprom
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  3. Kanda Whangchai
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  4. Rameshprabu Ramaraj
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Correspondence to Rameshprabu Ramaraj.

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Khammee, P., Unpaprom, Y., Whangchai, K. et al. Comparative studies of the longan leaf pigment extraction as a photosensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells’ purpose. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 12, 1619–1626 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-01060-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-01060-x

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