Fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized solar cells using Allium cepa flower extract as a means of harnessing the solar energy

Climate change and global warming have spurred a growing urgency to transition from traditional energy sources to sustainable alternatives. This article explores the realm of renewable energy, focusing on the potential of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as an eco-friendly solution. The study examines the efficiency of a DSSC utilizing a dye extract from Allium Cepa (onion) flowers, shedding light on the material's viability as a photosensitizer. The article covers the physics of solar cells, the operation principle of DSSCs, and the specific components involved in fabricating a DSSC based on Allium Cepa extract. The findings show that the extract obtained from Allium Cepa flower exhibited maximum absorbance of 1.4793 at a wavelength of 437.74 nm in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. And when adsorbed on the TiO2 semiconductor surface, the absorbance of the sample increased to the value of 1.5189 at a wavelength of 423.89 nm in the visible region. The energy bandgap of 4.21 eV was obtained for Allium Cepa extract. The fill factor of 0.61 was obtained, and a light conversion efficiency of 0.43 % was achieved. With these results, the dye extract obtained from dry Allium Cepa flowers is a good photosensitizer for making dye-sensitized solar cells.