Spectroscopic Characterization of Hibiscus sabdariffa Organic Dye for Solar Cells Applications

Abstract

In this work, the spectroscopic characteristics of Hibiscus sabdariffa organic dye solved in different solvents were studied within the range 400-800nm. As well, the effect of adding acid to the dye solution on these properties was introduced. Results showed that the spectral properties of the dye depend substantially on the type of the solvent, which has to be chosen carefully to achieve the optimum properties of this dye to be used as a sunlight sensing organic medium in dye-sensitized solar cells. Variation of acidic content in the dye solution was studied and its effect on both absorbance and transmittance was studied. As the acidic content in the solution was increased, the absorbance increased while transmittance decreased that may be attributed to dissociation of dye molecules, formation of new different compounds and/or quenching the spectral activity of the Hibiscus sabdariffa dye molecules.