Fabrication and characterization of natural dye-sensitized solar cells based on tin sulfide nanoparticles

In the present work, we have synthesized pure SnS, Fe-doped SnS, and Mn-doped SnS by the wet chemical precipitation technique. The grown samples were characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The purity of the samples was confirmed by the EDAX study. The doping changes the crystal size of the SnS NPs. The highest particle size of similar to 6.80 nm was observed for Mn-doped SnS and is confirmed by the TEM micro-graph. Optical properties were studied by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) measurements. Among three samples, Mn-doped SnS shows the lowest bandgap energy of 2.00 eV. Natural dye-sensitized solar cells based on pure SnS as well as doped SnS NPs have been fabricated. Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract was used as a natural dye which acts as photosensitizers. Our main target is to fabricate low cost but efficient solar cells with natural dye. The fabricated solar cells were characterized through the J-V study under the illumination of 100 mW/cm(2). Open-circuit voltage (V-oc), short-circuit current (J(sc)), fill factor (FF), as well as power conversion efficiency (eta) were also studied.