فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

This study reports the development of a novel and eco-friendly dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) through the modification of its three major components: sensitizer, electrolyte, and photoanode. A natural cocktail dye was employed as the sensitizer, a polymer electrolyte with graphite filler as the electrolyte, and a TiO₂–CuO nanocomposite as the photoanode. Natural dyes extracted from Beta vulgaris (beetroot) and Spinacia oleracea (spinach) were mixed in a 1:1 v/v ratio to form a cocktail sensitizer, thereby enhancing the absorption properties and light-harvesting efficiency of the device. The polymer electrolyte was fabricated via the solution casting technique using polyethylene oxide (PEO) as the host matrix, lithium iodide/iodine (LiI/I₂) as the redox couple, ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticizers, and graphite as a conductive nanofiller. Owing to its excellent electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and low cost, graphite significantly improved the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte to 10⁻³ S/cm. A TiO₂–CuO nanocomposite was synthesized using the sol–gel method and employed as the photoanode material, which improved electron transport and reduced recombination losses due to the synergistic effects between TiO₂ and CuO. Structural characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The fabricated DSSC exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 3.3%, with a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 9.0 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.68 V, and a fill factor of 57%. This multi-component modification combining sustainable natural dyes, a low-cost graphite-based solid polymer electrolyte, and a TiO₂–CuO nanocomposite photoanode offers a promising strategy for enhancing DSSC performance while maintaining both environmental and economic viability.