Presently, whole world using photovoltaic technology to harvest the sun’s energy and this technology have a major disadvantage of costly energy materials used in it. Energy scientists and researchers are continuously trying to decrease its cost with increasing energy efficiency. An alternative device may be the Dye sensitized solar cell and photogalvanic solar cells. In both the devices, dyes are used as energy material act as sensitizers and are cost effective also. Use of surfactant stables’ and enhance its efficiency.  The Photogalvanic cells make use of reversible photochemical redox reaction. Photogalvanic cell depend on excitation of molecule by a photon which induces chemical reaction to give high energy products. Photogalvanic cell  have inbuilt storage where in PV cell we need external batteries to store energy. In our laboratory we have fabricated some phogalvanic cells with use of anionic and nonionic surfactants and synthetic dyes as sensitizers with reasonable energy efficiencies [1-3].  In experimental study, photogalvanic cell system containing dye as a photosensitizer, surfactant and a redutant in photogalvanic cell system. Various electrical parameters   of the cell were observed. Current-voltage characteristics, Fill factor & conversion efficiency of cell is observed, effects of variation of dye, surfactant and reductant concentration, pH, light intensity, electrode area, temperature and diffusion length on photopotential and photocurrent of the cell were observed. Conversion efficiency and storage capacity of cell is determined by using observed values of electrical outputs. A mechanism has also been proposed for the generation of photocurrent in photogalvanic cell. Present paper is a focus on cost effective energy conversion device with use of low cost energy materials in solar cells and environmental friendly also.

References:

[1] K. R. Genwa and C. P. Sagar, Energy efficiency, solar energy conversion and storage in photogalvanic cell. Energy Conversion and Management, 66, 121-126(2013) 

[2] K. R. Genwa and Kewal Singh, Optimum efficiency of photogalvanic cell for solar energy conversion: Lssamine green B-ascorbic acid-NaLS system. Smart Grid Renew. Energy.,4, 306-311(2013)

[3] K. R. Genwa and Sarita Boss, Fabrication of DSSCs with biebrich scarlet, alizarine cyaninegreen and evans blue dyes as new organic photosensitizers. Mater. Sci. Pol., 36, 1-10 (2018)

Prof K R Genwa is presently working as Professor of Chemistry in Jai Narain Vyas University Jodhpur, Rajasthan India. He is teaching expert of Physical and theoretical Chemistry and having 28 years of teaching and research experience. Involved in research work in the field of Renewable energy research especially solar energy conversion and storage by photogalvanic cells and Dye sensitized solar cells and developed some efficient cell systems with reasonable electrical output, conversion efficiency and storage capacity. These systems were published in some reputed international Journals with impact factor 0.9 to 8.0 like Solar Energy (Elsevier), Solar Energy Material and Solar Cells (Elsevier), Applied Energy (Elsevier) and Energy & fuels (American Chemical Society). Presently involved in development of low cost and feasible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell with enhanced energy efficiency and performance to be used as solar energy conversion device which can become alternate to the costly PV cells.