Jamaleddin Sheikh; Zarrin Eshaghi
Abstract
In this research, a novel approach was developed for the quantitative analysis of chemical compounds using dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The analyte under investigation was employed as the sensitizing dye in the DSSC, which was then used as a detector to quantify the target substance. The sample ...
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In this research, a novel approach was developed for the quantitative analysis of chemical compounds using dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The analyte under investigation was employed as the sensitizing dye in the DSSC, which was then used as a detector to quantify the target substance. The sample solution was simultaneously exposed to the full spectral output of a tungsten lamp, and the DSSC acted as a detector by registering the intensity of absorbed light. This system is conceptually analogous to a conventional UV-Vis spectrophotometer, with the key distinction that it operates without a monochromator, making it a simpler and more cost-effective alternative. Four types of DSSCs were fabricated using different dyes: N719, Bromoethylene Blue, Quinalizarin, and 2,7-Dichlorofluorescein. These solar cells were used in place of the traditional photodetector in a UV-Vis spectrophotometer to investigate the absorption of tungsten lamp light by solutions containing either the same dye as that used in the DSSC or different dyes. Experimental observations revealed that when the solution contained the same dye as the DSSC (i.e., matched dye), the absorption response was logarithmically proportional to the analyte concentration. In contrast, when the solution contained a different dye (i.e., mismatched dye), the system followed the Beer–Lambert law, showing a linear relationship between absorbance and concentration. This technique demonstrates potential for both qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. For analytical applications, a uniquely fabricated DSSC incorporating the dye of interest serves as a dedicated detector for each specific analyte.
