Exploring the Potential Effects of Biotemplation in Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) Particles for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant increase in the use of fossil fuels. This trend has raised concerns due to the environmental impact associated with the extraction and consumption of these fuels. As a result, there has been a global shift towards finding alternative energy sources that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Among these, solar energy has stood out due to its abundance and potential to meet a significant portion of the world’s energy needs. Solar technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) systems, harness sunlight and convert it into electricity.<br/>One promising alternative that has emerged within the realm of PV systems is the Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC). Since their invention in 1991, DSSCs have become one of the most researched photovoltaic systems because they present a cost-effective and greener alternative for energy production. Unlike traditional silicon-based solar cells, DSSCs use a photosensitizing dye to capture sunlight, initiating an electron transfer process that generates an electric current. This design enables DSSCs to operate efficiently even under low-light conditions, offering potential advantages in regions with less direct sunlight. In this type of system, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is one of the most used semiconductor materials in DSSCs. This material is favored due to several key properties: it has a large surface area, exhibits low toxicity, offers long-term chemical stability, and demonstrates excellent photoactivity.<br/> This study focuses on the understanding of the effect of biotemplation on TiO₂ particles size and physicochemical properties, and its impact on the efficiency of the DSSCs. Biotemplation was achieved by using oregano brujo leaf biomass as part of the solgel method during the particle synthesis. In addition, the synthesis was performed using a ghost leaf prepared by decellularization and discoloration techniques to only retain the cellulose structure of the leaf. Resulting particles were characterized using spectroscopic experiments that include FT-Infrared (FTIR), diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to characterize the particles. In addition, dye adsorption measurements were performed using absorption and emission UV vis spectroscopy.<br/> <br/> Preliminary results indicate that the biotemplation impacts TiO₂band gap energy, particle size and chemical composition of the samples when compared to commercial anatase. Also, a difference in dye adsorption on the surface of the particle was observed.