Tropaeline O‐oxalic acid‐benzalkonium chloride photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage

Abstract

Abstract The photogalvanic (PG) cells involve a change in the electrode potential by photochemical processes along with the diffusion of ionic species through the bulk electrolyte. The PG cells have used so far the complex H‐shaped cell design, heavy sensitizer molecules with low diffusivity, and low photo‐stability. All these factors are not conducive to the fabrication of cheap cells with good electrical output. To address all these concerns, the tropaeline‐O dye photosensitizer (a low molecular weight molecule with higher diffusion and higher photo‐stability) has been exploited with diffusion‐friendly low cost and a simple transparent cylindrical glass tube. The optimum values of the cell's electrical parameters are: potential 998 mV, current 3200 µA, and power 829.5 µW, and it is quite similar at all illumination window sizes.

Keywords

• photogalvanic cells
• photo‐sensitizer
• power storage
• tropaeline‐O dye