Synergetic effect of Leucophyllum frutescens and Ehretia microphylla dyes in enhancing the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.

The use of new natural dyes derived from Leucophyllum frutescens and Ehretia microphylla as well as their combination in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been explored for the first time in the current work. The primary pigments that sensitize the semiconductor TiO films were found to be carotenoid, anthocyanin, and chlorophyll. Pigments from Leucophyllum frutescens and Ehretia microphylla were designated as LF and EM, and their mixture blended at volume percent of 50:50, 75:25, and 25:75 were labeled as LE1, LE2, and LE3, respectively.