Energy Reports (Nov 2023)
Titan Yellow dye sensitized and Ethylenediaminetetraacetate photoreduced photogalvanic system
Abstract
Photogalvanic cells (PG) are capable of generating solar power with storage, which predominantly dependent on the sensitizer/electrolyte/electrode nature. Therefore, the exploitation of suitable combination of photo-sensitizer/electrode/electrolyte is the key for enhancing the electrical output of these cells. Titan Yellow (a novel dye) has good absorbance in the visible region and good water solubility. These characteristics of this dye have prompted authors to exploit it for further enhancing electrical output of PG cells. Therefore, in present study, the Titan yellow dye photo sensitizer-Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) reductant-NaOH alkali medium-Pt/Graphite electrodes photogalvanic system has been exploited. The observed power, current, potential, and efficiency is of the order of 126.4 µW, 2200 µA, 770 mV and 4.34%, respectively. PG performance is observed better in the high pH range (for example, ∼22% enhancement in the power with 0.87% rise in the pH; 37.6 µW power at pH 13.65; 46 µW power at pH 13.77). Spectroscopic study shows that the Titan Yellow is the actual light absorbing material in the electrolyte as other chemical components (reductant EDTA, NaOH, water) of the electrolyte do not show any absorbance in the visible spectral range. A comparison of present results with published results shows both sides, i.e., present results are higher than some reported data, and lower than some other reported data. The use of graphite counter electrode in the present study is the reason behind the present results being higher than some reported data. The heat induced precipitation of dye from the electrolyte in the present study is the reason behind the present results being lower than some reported data. Therefore, controlling the Titan Yellow precipitation at elevated temperature is the challenge for future research. In totality, the present research shows that the Titan yellow dye is not a good sensitizer in the photogalvanics.
