Improving the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using nanoparticles and a dye produced by an Antarctic bacterium

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are attractive alternatives compared with conventional photovoltaic-silicon-based cells, mainly because they are environmentally friendly. In this work, we report Antarctic bacterial pigments as sensitizers in combination with external co-sensitizers. DSSC were assembled with different concentrations of the purple-pigment violacein, as well in conjunction with xanthophylls and silver nanoparticles. The violacein produced by the Antarctic bacterium Janthinobacterium sp. UV13 is a dye with physical/chemical features compatible with its use as the sensitizer in the production of high conversion efficiency DSSC (stability at day-light and room temperature during 100 days, stability at 85 degrees C during 20 min, a suitable oxidation potential value, light-absorption in the visible range and ability to adsorb onto TiO2 electrodes). The cells' conversion efficiency improved when it was sensitized with preparations of the pigment and silver nanoparticles following sequential steps, with the achievement of conversion efficiency of 0.230 +/- 0.002%. DSSC assembled under these conditions showed long persistence of the photoelectric properties after 100 days. Our results suggest that the use of violacein with silver nanoparticles has significant technological potential, mainly during the manufacturing of eco-friendly solar cells. The purpose of this type of photovoltaic devices in Antarctica offers successful application perspectives to generate energy from renewable resources. [GRAPHICS] .