Characterization
of bacterial dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells applications
Wan Hasalehah Wan Alli, Nurashikin Suhaili and Tay Meng Guan
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(7); 1-11;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/297rjce01011; (2025)
Abstract
Bacterial dyes have attracted significant attention as sustainable alternatives
to conventional synthetic dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Present research
has concentrated on a narrow selection of bacterial species, leaving the potential
of numerous other pigments largely unexplored. This study aims to characterize pigments
extracted from Chromobacterium violaceum and Ralstonia sp. and to determine their
potential as photosensitizers in DSSCs. The pigments were analysed in terms of their
spectroscopic and structural properties, determined by Ultraviolet visible and Fourier-Transform
Infrared spectroscopy. The DSSCs efficiency of the pigments was also investigated.
Our results showed that the pigments produced by the aforementioned bacteria were
identified as violacein and carotenoid. Preliminary investigation into the feasibility
of the pigments showed the promising utility of both pigments as photosensitizers
for DSSCs. This study provides useful insights into the potential of novel bacterial
pigments as photosensitizers for the development of cost-effective and ecologically
friendly DSSCs.
