Tahmineh Jalali

In this study, the optical, structural, and electronic performance of natural dyes extracted from three plant sources—pomegranate flower, sumac, and corn silk—were investigated to evaluate their efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed that the pomegranate flower pigment exhibited the highest light absorption in the UV–visible range and the greatest anthocyanin content. Conductivity comparisons showed that deionized water as a solvent significantly enhanced conductivity, particularly in the corn silk extract, due to the presence of polar compounds and increased ionic mobility. Energy-level analysis along with electrolyte resistance measurements, demonstrated that pomegranate flower and corn silk possess optimal energy gaps, lower LUMO levels, and reduced electrolyte resistance compared with other samples. These features are crucial for improving electron transfer in DSSCs. Overall, the results indicate that pomegranate flower and corn silk extracts, owing to their structural, optical, and electronic characteristics, are promising candidates for application in natural dye-sensitized solar cells.