Natural surfactant fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds based photogalvanic cell for solar energy conversion and storage

Abstract

A more environmentally sustainable and an efficient Photogalvanic system based on Fenugreek seeds aqueous extract as natural surfactant (saponins), Cellobiose as reductant and Neutral Red dye as photosensitizer is developed to demonstrate a potent cell. This novel system demonstrated excellent results in terms of maximum current, maximum voltage and power at Power Point. The outcomes show potency of Saponins as surfactant in Fenugreek seeds which enhances the cell's performance by improving the diffusivity, stability and solubility of the dye photosensitizer. The potent cell resulted highest reported performance, with a maximum potential of 914 mV, a maximum current of 14,000 μA, power at power point 1210 μW, current at power point 2000 μA, potential at power point 605 μW and conversion efficiency of 20.04 %. The open circuit potential (V_OC), and the short circuit current (i_SC) was 910 mV, and 9000 μA respectively. UV–vis Spectrometry has shown that the Neutral Red dye photosensitizer is photostable in the electrolyte solution and suggested that the fenugreek extract increases the transition moment of the dye photosensitizer.