Extraction and Characterization of Dye from Marigold flowers and its suitability for application in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Abstract The performance of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is primarily influenced by the dye used as the sensitizing agent. In this context, natural dyes have emerged as a sustainable and economically viable alternative to synthetic dyes. In the current work, we have focused on the extraction and characterization of natural dye derived from Tagetes erecta and its consequent application as sensitizer in DSSC. The optical and electrochemical properties of ethanol-based Tagetes erecta dye was measured by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry analysis. The fabricated DSSC using the extracted dye demonstrated a strong response to visible light with an open circuit voltage of 0.60 V, and a photon conversion efficiency of 0.02% using quasi-solid polymer electrolyte.