Cochineal as Natural Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Renny N.-N.; Moisés G.-C.; Angelats-Silva L.; Rojas S.J.; Luis C.-C. · Green Energy and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-98997-1_61

Resumen

The aim of this research was to study the usefulness of the dye obtained from cochineal to sensitize solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were built using indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass coated with a layer of TiO2 particles as a photoanode and carbon as a counter electrode. An alcoholic cochineal extract was prepared, which was integrated into the TiO2 layer as a dye-sensitizer. The performance of the DSSCs was studied by light irradiation at different wavelengths and constant power. The electrochemical results showed values of VOC = 0.408 V, JSC = 0.0629 mA/cm2, FF = 0.440, and an efficiency of 3.765% when the cells were irradiated with 470 nm light. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) results confirmed this performance by showing a low resistance to the flow of free charges at this wavelength. This study contributes to the alternative use of this organic dye in the operation of DSSC. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego; Universidad Autónoma del Perú; Universidad César Vallejo