Scientists at IIT Roorkee have used the juicy, delectable Indian summer fruit Jamun to create inexpensive and more efficient solar cells.
Researchers used naturally occurring pigment found in jamun as an inexpensive photosensitiser for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSCs) or Gratzel cells.
Gratzel cells are thin film solar cells.
These composed of a porous layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated photoanode.
This is a layer of dye molecules that absorbs sunlight.
Also used were an electrolyte for regenerating the dye, and a cathode.
These components form an in between-like structure with the dye molecule or photosensitizer playing a pivotal role through its ability to absorb visible light.
The dark colour of jamun and abundance of jamun trees in IIT campus clicked the idea that it might be useful as a dye in the typical Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSC).
Researchers extracted dyes from jamun using ethanol. They also used fresh plums and black currant, along with mixed berry juices which contain pigments that give characteristic colour to jamun.
The mixture was then centrifuged and decanted. The extracted coloured pigment called anthocyanin was used as a sensitiser.
Natural pigments are way economical in comparison to regular Ruthenium-based pigments and scientists are optimising to improve the efficiency. The increasing pressure on fossil fuels and concern of global warming has inspired continuous search for alternate energy,
India aims to deliver on the country’s pledge to build up a 40 per cent share of non-fossil fuel capacity in the power sector by 2030, researchers said.
There is a large social need for renewable energy especially solar energy. The lab is actively engaged in low cost high efficiency solar cells production.
The simplicity and cost effectiveness of the overall fabrication process, widespread availability of fruits and juices, and ease of extraction of anthocyanin dyes render them novel and inexpensive candidates for solar cells application.
Jamun: Know More- Syzygium cumini, known as jambul, jambolan, jamblang or jamun, is an evergreen tropical tree.
- It is in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae.
- Syzygium cumini is native to the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining regions of Southeast Asia.
- The species ranges across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
- USDA grew the first jamun tree in the US in Florida.
