Solar energy conversion and storage: Rhodamine B - Fructose photogalvanic cell

Photogalvanic cells are photoelectrochemical cells chargeable in light for solar energy conversion and storage. They may be energy source for the future, if their electrical performance is increased. In this study, the Rhodamine B dye as photo sensitizer, Fructose as reductant and NaOH as alkaline medium has been used to enhance electrical performance of the cell. The observed cell performance is radically high. The observed cell performance in terms of maximum potential, maximum photocurrent, short-circuit current, power at power point, conversion efficiency and storage capacity in terms of half change time is −1071 mV, 1049 μA, 972 μA, 244.02 μW, 7.58% and 3.6 h, respectively. It is concluded that Rhodamine B - Fructose based cells have radically enhanced performance. It is also viewed that the Rhodamine B - Fructose based photogalvanic cells, with additional advantage of low cost and storage capacity, can give electrical output comparable to that for commercially used power storage property lacking photovoltaic cells.

► Rhodamine B dye-Fructose were studied for enhancing performance of cell. ► Observed short-circuit current and power are 972 μA and 244.02 μW, respectively. ► The obtained results are highly encouraging. ► Rhodamine B dye – Fructose system enhances performance of cell. ► The results are comparable to that for photovoltaic cells.