Journal of Research in Applied Chemistry

Authors: Srijita Basumallick

Abstract: The stock of fossil fuels like coal, petrol, and diesel are rapidly exhausted and therefore, technology based on solar energy harnessing has received as an effective alternative energy source which can replace fossil fuels. Among many different types of solar energy conversion devices, photo-galvanic and dye sensitive solar cells are more promising. Dye based devices are simple and cost effective. Earlier researchers in the development of photo-galvanic cells use dye in solutions as a result the photo-excited dye often return back to the ground state without effective electron transfer reaction. In natural photo synthetic process, the excited pigment chlorophyll exhibits efficient electron transfer process by transporting solar energy. Photo-galvanic cell is one of the conventional devices for tapping solar energy.   Unlike conventional  methylene blue (MB) – EDTA ( ethylene di-amine tetra-acetic acid) , I2/ I3- photo-galvanic cell , here we report for the first time,   replacement of Pt /I2/ I3- cathode  by a redox conducting polymer, polyaniline deposited on a steel plate and designated as  Steel/ PANI- NO3-  cathode (PANI= poly ine). A photo galvanic cell comprising of Pt/methylene blue EDTA solution/ SteelPANI-NO3 exhibits better photo-chemical performances compared to cell with conventional cathode.