Extraction and purification of Lawsonia inermis (laali) dyes for applications in dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Abstract This study explores the extraction of dyes from Lawsonia inermis (Laali) and the effects of purification on the dyes for solar cell applications. The TiO2 thin films were synthesized through Doctor Blade’s technique while the dye was applied on the thin film using a simple drop-casting method. Characterization of the doctor-blade deposited TiO2 thin-film using XRD confirmed the successful deposition of anatase crystallite structure with a mesoporous morphology confirmed using SEM analysis. The UV-Vis, FTIR, and EIS characterizations of the dyes showed increase in band gap, adequate functional groups and lower charge resistance respectively after the purification, which could contribute positively to enhancing the efficiency of solar cell devices.