Increasing photogalvanic solar power generation and storage capacity of brilliant cresyl blue by employing surfactant and natural sunlight

Abstract

Photogalvanic solar cells are solar energy harvesting devices having inherent power storage capacity. Electrical output as 590 µA current, 183.3 µW power, and 1.95% efficiency is reported for the fructose/brilliant cresyl blue dye (a reductant/photosensitizer couple) at low illumination intensity. For exploring the feasibility of these cells for application, the reported electrical output needs further enhancement with the demonstration of workability in natural sunlight. With this aim, the modified fructose reductant‐NaOH alkalibrilliant cresyl blue dye photosensitizer photogalvanic system has been studied using a surfactant with a very small Pt electrode in natural sunlight. Abruptly enhanced current (2300 µA), power (661 µW), and efficiency (8.26%) have been observed in the modified study. The study has shown that photogalvanic cells can work at high illumination intensity adhering to similar basic principles, which are apt for cells working at artificial and low-intensity illumination.

Keywords

brilliant cresyl blue / natural sunlight / photogalvanic cell / power storage / solar electricity

References

[1] Rabinowitch E. The photogalvanic effect II. the photogalvanic properties of the thionine iron system. J Chem Phys. 1940;8:560-566.

[2] Guo J, Shi Y, Chu Y, Ma T. Highly efficient telluride electrocatalysts for use as pt-free counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem Commun. 2013;49:10157-10159.

[3] Yu J, Fan J, Zhao L. Dye-sensitized solar cells based on hollow anatase TiO₂ spheres prepared by self-transformation method. Electrochim Acta. 2010;55:597-602.

[4] Zhang S, Islam A, Yang X, et al. Improvement of spectral response by co-sensitizers for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem A. 2013;1:4812-4819.

[5] Mahmoudzadeh MA, Madden JDW. A vertical architecture for increasing photogalvanic solar cell efficiency: theory and modeling. Electrochim Acta. 2014;143:98-105.

[6] Halls JE, Wadhawan JD. A model for efficient, semiconductor-free solar cells via supersensitized electron transfer cascades in photogalvanic devices. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2013;15:3218-3226.

[7] Albery WJ, Archer MD. Optimum efficiency of photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion. Nature. 1977;270:399-402.

[8] Koli P. Solar energy conversion and storage using naphthol Green B dye photosensitizer in photogalvanic cells. Appl Sol Energy. 2014;50:67-73.

[9] Koli P. Photogalvanic cells: comparative study of various synthetic dye and natural photo sensitizer present in spinach extract. RSC Adv. 2014;4:46194-46202.

[10] Koli P. Photogalvanic cells: only solar cells having dual role of solar power generation and storage. WIREs Energy Environ. 2018;7:e274.

[11] Potter Jr AE, Thaller LH. Efficiency of some iron-thionine photogalvanic cells. Sol Energy. 1959;3:1-7.

[12] Pokhrel S, Nagaraja KS. Photogalvanic behaviour of [Cr₂O₂S₂(1-Pipdtc)₂(H₂O)₂] in aqueous DMF. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells. 2009;93:244-248.

[13] Koli P, Sharma U, Gangotri KM. Solar energy conversion and storage: rhodamine B-fructose photogalvanic cell. Renewable Energy. 2012;37:250-258.

[14] Sharma U, Koli P, Gangotri KM. Brilliant cresyl blue-fructose for enhancement of solar energy conversion and storage capacity of photogalvanic solar cells. Fuel. 2011;90:3336-3342.

[15] Groenen EJJ, De Groot MS, De Ruiter R, De Wit N. Triton X-100 micelles in the ferrous/thionine photogalvanic cell. J Phys Chem. 1984;88:1449-1454.

[16] Mukhopadhyay M, Bhowmik BB. Kinetics of photoinduced electron transfer in a photoelectrochemical cell consisting of thiazine dyes and triton X-100 surfactant. J Photochem Photobiol A. 1992;69:223-227.

[17] Gangotri P, Gangotri KM. Study in cationic micellar effect on photogalvanics: cetyl pyridinium chloride-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid-safranine O system for solar energy conversion and storage. J Technol Innov Renew Energy. 2017;6:71-79.

[18] Koli P. Study of enhanced photogalvanic effect of naphthol green B in natural sunlight. J Power Sources. 2015;285:310-317.

[19] Koli P. Sodium lauryl sulphate enhanced solar energy conversion by photogalvanic effect of rhodamine B-fructose in artificial light. ChemistrySelect. 2016;1:4624-4629.

[20] Gangotri P, Koli P. Study of the enhancement on photogalvanics: solar energy conversion and storage in EDTA–safranine O–NaLS system. Sustainable Energy Fuels. 2017;1:882-890.

[21] Koli P. Surfactant and natural sunlight enhanced photogalvanic effect of Sudan I dye. Arabian J Chem. 2017;10:1077-1083.

[22] Bendary SH, Betiha MA, Hussein MF, Mahmoud SA. Solar energy conversion to electricity by tris (2, 2′-bipyirdyl) ruthenium (II) chloride hexahydrate-diethyl ammonium tetrachloroferrate-oxalic acid photogalvanic cell: statistical analysis. J Mol Liq. 2022;347:117824.

[23] Bhimwal MK, Gangotri KM, Pareek A, Kumar J. Study to enhancing the performance of photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage by using micelles. Int J Innov Res Technol. 2022;9(3):632-644.

[24] Lal M, Gangotri KM. Innovative study in renewable energy source through mixed surfactant system for eco-friendly environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2023;30(44):98805-98813.

[25] Jonwal M, Koli P, Dayma Y, Pareek RK. High energy throughput using photogalvanic solar techniques and environmentally benign chemical system. J Photochem Photobiol. 2024;22:100244.

[26] Albery WJ, Bowen WR, Fisher S, Turner AD. Photogalvanic cells: part IX. investigations using the transparent rotating disc electrode. J Electro-anal Chem. 1979;107:11-22.

[27] Albery WJ, Foulds AW, Hall KJ, Hillman AR, Egdell RG, Orchard AF. Thionine coated electrode for photogalvanic cells. Nature. 1979;282:793-797.

[28] Kaneko M, Yamada A. Photopotential and photocurrent induced by a tolusafranine ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid system. J Phys Chem. 1977;81:1213-1215.

[29] Suresh E, Pragasam J, Xavier FP, Nagaraja KS. Investigation of manganese-molybdenum-diethyldithiocarbamate complex as a potential system for solar energy conversion. Int J Energy Res. 1999;23:229-233.

[30] Wildes PD, Lichtin NN. Correlation of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the totally illuminated, thin-layer iron-thionine photogalvanic cell with photostationary composition. J Am Chem Soc. 1978;100:6568-6572.

[31] Minguez-Mosquera MI, Gandul-Rojas B, Minguez-Mosquera J. Mechanism and kinetics of the degradation of chlorophylls during the processing of Green table olives. J Agricult Food Chem. 1994;42:1089-1095.

[32] Quickenden TI, Yim (née Tan) GK. The relationship between open circuit photovoltage and light intensity in photogalvanic cells-an extension of Albery and Archer’s treatment. Electrochim Acta. 1979;24:143-146.

[33] Aliwi SM, Naman SA, Al-Daghstani IK. Photogalvanic effect in the vanadium(III) bis(2, 2′-bipyridyl) chloride-Fe(III) system. Sol Cells. 1986;18:85-91.

[34] Nabar GM, Shenai VA. Reduction potentials of vat dyes and their relation to the ease of reduction and tendering behavior. Text Res J. 1963;33:471-480.

[35] Mall C, Solanki PP. Spectrophotometric and conductometric studies of molecular interaction of brilliant cresyl blue with cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactant in aqueous medium for application in photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage. Energy Reports. 2018;4:23-30.

[36] Genwa KR, Sagar CP. Improved energy efficiency of photogalvanic cell with four dyes as photosensitizers in tween 60-ascorbic acid system. Int J Phys Sci. 2013;8:1515-1525.

[37] Yadav S, Lal C. Optimization of performance characteristics of a mixed dye based photogalvanic cell for efficient solar energy conversion and storage. Energy Convers Manage. 2013;66:271-276.

[38] Gangotri KM, Aseri P, Bhimwal MK. The use of Tergitol-7 in photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage: an EDTA–Azur B system. Energy Sourc Pt A Recov Utiliz Environ Effects. 2013;35:312-320.

[39] Koli P. Solar energy conversion and storage: fast Green FCF-fructose photogalvanic cell. Appl Energy. 2014c;118:231-237.

[40] Genwa KR, Singh SP. Photogalvanic performance of DSS-Indigo Carmine-EDTA cell materials. Asian J Chem. 2017;29:1215-1219.

[41] Rathore J, Lal M. Study of photogalvanic effect in photogalvanic cell containing single surfactant as DSS, tatrazine as a photosensitizer and EDTA as reductant for solar energy conversion and storage. Res J Chem Environ. 2018;22:53-57.

[42] Gangotri P, Gangotri KM. Studies of the micellar effect on photogalvanics: solar energy conversion and storage-EDTA-safranine O-NaLS system. Energy Source Pt A Recov Utiliz Environ Effects. 2013;35:1007-1016.

[43] Bhimwal MK, Gangotri KM. A comparative study on the performance of photogalvanic cells with different photosensitizers for solar energy conversion and storage: D-xylose-NaLS systems. Energy. 2011;36:1324-1331.

[44] Gangotri KM, Mahawar AK. Comparative study on effect of mixed photosensitizer system for solar energy conversion and storage: brilliant cresyl blue +toluidine blue-ethylene glycol–NaLS system. Environ Prog Sustain Energy. 2012;31:474-480.

[45] Gangotri KM, Solanki PP, Bhimwal MK. Use of anionic micelle in photogalvanic cells for solar energy conversion and storage: sodium lauryl sulphate-mannose-brilliant cresyl blue system. Energy Sources Pt A Recov Utiliz Environ Effects. 2013;35:2209-2217.

[46] Bhimwal MK, Gangotri KM, Bhimwal MK. A comparison of conversion efficiencies of various sugars as reducing agents for the photosensitizer eosin in the photogalvanic cell. Int J Energy Res. 2013;37:250-258.

[47] Gao F, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. A new heteroleptic ruthenium sensitizer enhances the absorptivity of mesoporous titania film for a high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell. Chem Commun. 2008;23:2635-2637.

[48] Ghiasi M, Niknam T, Wang Z, Mehrandezh M, Dehghani M, Ghadimi N. A comprehensive review of cyber-attacks and defense mechanisms for improving security in smart grid energy systems: past, present and future. Electric Power Syst Res. 2023;215:108975.

[49] Ghiasi M, Wang Z, Mehrandezh M, Jalilian S, Ghadimi N. Evolution of smart grids towards the Internet of energy: concept and essential components for deep decarbonisation. IET Smart Grid. 2023;6(1):86-102.

[50] Mehrpooya M, Ghadimi N, Ghadimi N, Marefati M, Ghorbanian SA. Numerical investigation of a new combined energy system includes parabolic dish solar collector, stirling engine and thermoelectric device. Int J Energy Res. 2021;45:16436-16455.

[51] Yang Z, Ghadamyari M, Khorramdel H, et al. Robust multi-objective optimal design of islanded hybrid system with renewable and diesel sources/stationary and mobile energy storage systems. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2021;148:111295.

[52] Ye H, Jin G, Fei W, Ghadimi N. High step-up interleaved dc/dc converter with high efficiency. Energy Sources Pt A Recov Utiliz Environ Effects. 2020:1-20.

[53] Cai X, Li X, Razmjooy N, Ghadimi N. Breast cancer diagnosis by convolutional neural network and advanced thermal exchange optimization algorithm. Comput Math Methods Med. 2021;2021:1-13.

[54] Razmjooy N, Sheykhahmad FR, Ghadimi N. A hybrid neural network–world cup optimization algorithm for melanoma detection. Open Med. 2018;13:9-16.

[55] Parsian A, Ramezani M, Ghadimi N. A hybrid neural network-gray wolf optimization algorithm for melanoma detection. Biomed Res. 2017;28(8):3408-3411.

[56] Xu Z, Sheykhahmad FR, Ghadimi N, Razmjooy N. Computer-aided diagnosis of skin cancer based on soft computing techniques. Open Med. 2020;15:860-871.

[57] Halls JE, Wadhawan JD. Photogalvanic cells based on lyotropic nanosystems: towards the use of liquid nanotechnology for personalised energy sources. Energy Environ Sci. 2012;5:6541-6551.

[58] Koli P. Natural sunlight-irradiated rhodamine B dye sensitised and surfactant-enhanced photogalvanic solar power and storage. Int J Ambient Energy. 2021;42:1193-1199.

[59] Rabinowitch E. The photogalvanic effect I. The photochemical properties of the thionine-iron system. J Chem Phys. 1940;8:551-559.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Battery Energy published by Xijing University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.