Tropical marine Chlorella sp. PP1 as a source of photosynthetic pigments for dye-sensitized solar cells

•Chlorella sp. PP1 cultured under light-stressed conditions produced more carotenoids.•The novel Chl of Chlorella sp. PP1 was identified.•β-Car was capable of harvesting and transferring photon energy in solar cells.

To understand the potential for cultivating tropical marine Chlorella sp. PP1 to produce photosynthetic pigments, particularly β-carotene (β-Car), we investigated the growth characteristics and pigment properties of Chlorella sp. PP1 under three different irradiances and properties of solar cells sensitized by β-Car. Chlorella sp. PP1 cells that were cultured under fluorescent lamp irradiance (12:12-h photoperiods) showed better cell development and density. However, photoinhibition of cell growth was observed in the cells under both continuous fluorescent lamp irradiance and direct natural sunlight exposure. Photosynthetic pigments of Chlorella sp. PP1 were identified as chlorophylls and carotenoids, and carotenoids were produced more dominantly under light stress conditions. The solar cells that only used β-Car adsorbed by a nanocrystalline TiO2 film electrode exhibited photovoltaic effects, indicating that β-Car was capable of performing as an antenna of the solar cells.

Graphical abstractA model of β-Car function as an antenna of solar cellFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide