Role of Rhodamine B in photovoltage generation using anionic surfactant in liquid phase photoelectrochemical cell for solar energy conversion and storage

Department of Chemistry, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur-342 005, Rajasthan, India

E-mail : krg2004@rediffmail.com

Manuscript received 24 July 2009, revised 22 January 2010, accepted 8 February 2010

The conversion of solar energy on the basis of photogalvanic effect in liquid phase photogalvanic solar cell Is studied experimentally. The photogalvanic effect has been studied in system containing Rhodamine B as a photosensitizer and DTPA as a reducing agent in presence of sodium lauryl sulphate. The photopotential and photocurrent generated by this system were 843.0 mV and 185.0 µA, respectively. The experimental conversion efficiency, fill factor, storage capacity of this cell have also been determined. The effect of different parameters on electrical output of the cell like effect of dye, reductant and surfactant concentration, pH, light Intensity, temperature, diffusion length and electrode area were Investigated. The absorption properties or newly used dye (Rhodamine B) were analyzed. This photogalvanic cell can be used for 85.0 min In dark. A mechanism of cell photochemical reaction has also been proposed.