DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR CELLS USING ADAPTABLE LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS

• Daso Akindele Wellington

  Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

• Adewuyi Gideon Akinyemi

  Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

• Oke Peter Kayode

  Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

This paper focused on the development f an adaptable solar cell for renewable energy, using materials easily accessible in Nigeria. Several parts of Nigeria continue to struggle with power supply. Due to insufficient electrical energy supply, business investors are leaving Nigeria for the neighbouring countries. The Nigeria environment suite electricity generation using solar energy. Despite this avalanche of solar radiance, many Nigerians are yet to fully harness the technology of solar for electricity and power supply. This may be due to the high cost associated with purchasing imported solar panels from China, USA, Canada. It is on this basis that this study developed an adaptable solar cell for Nigerians and the Nigeria environment. The key objectives include development of a solar cell using local available materials like dye. Dye from Moringa was selected for fabrication of dye sensitize solar cells (DSSC). The study fabricated solar cells were characterized and evaluated to ascertain the performance.The Moringa dye was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF ) to ascertain the materials present. Other key materials include an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and glass substrate used as the conducting substrate; nitric acid used to convert the Titania into Titania paste. Iodine and Potassium Iodide was used as the redox electrolyte alongside Graphite (the catalyst). The dye sensitize solar cells was formed using the anode and cathode. The anode composed of the Titania paste was annealed for about 350?c on a conducting glass substrate, last for 10 minutes. This temperature ensures a strong adhesion between the anode electrode and the Titanium paste while promoting the crystallization of the Ti0_{2 for better conductivity} and performance annealed for 10 minutes before dying the cell with the Moriga paste. The cathode was made using Graphite. A redox electrolyte is used to ensure uniform mixing of both the anode and cathode when they were brought into contact. The elemental analysis done using the scanning electron microscope reveals the presence of key elements that confirms the successful deposition of Moringa dye-sensitize solar cells. The fabricated solar cells device was characterized to ascertain the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The key characteristics obtained are the short circuit current Ioc, Vsc, Vmax, Imax, FF, and the efficiency. The fabricated solar cells exhibit the short circuit current (J_sc,) 16.8 mA, the open circuit voltage (V_oc,) 350 mV, fill factor (FF) 0.39 and conversion efficiency (?) 2.30 %.

1. Daso Akindele Wellington, Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

   Mechanical Engineering Department

    

2. Adewuyi Gideon Akinyemi, Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

   Mechanical Engineering Department

    

3. Oke Peter Kayode , Federal University, Akure, Nigeria.

   Mechanical Engineering Department

    

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