Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 14, 2026

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae
Published on: October 10, 2014
Visible light absorption and photo-sensitizing properties of spinach leaves and beetroot extracted natural dyes
D Sengupta1, B Mondal2, K Mukherjee2
1Centre for Advanced Materials Processing, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur 713209, W.B., India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur 713209, W.B., India.
Abstract:
Herein, chlorophyll and betalain dyes are extracted from fresh spinach leaves and beetroots. Fourier transform infrared spectra are used to identify the characteristic peaks of the extracted dyes. UV-vis light absorption characteristics of the dyes and their mixed counterpart are investigated by varying their pH and temperature. These dyes are used as photo sensitizer for fabrication of zinc oxide photo-anode based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The photo-voltaic characteristics of the developed DSSCs are measured under simulated solar light (power of incident light 100 mW cm(-2) from Air Mass 1.5G). The solar to electric conversion efficiencies for the chlorophyll, betalain and mixed dye based solar cells are estimated as 0.148%, 0.197% and 0.294% respectively. The highest conversion efficiency for mixed dye based solar cell is attributed due to the absorption of wider range of solar spectrum.
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Light as Energy
Photons
A photon is a discrete electromagnetic particle or bundle of energy. Photons are characterized by their frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, similar to the properties of a wave. Waves with higher frequencies transmit more energy and have shorter wavelengths than longer wavelengths that transmit...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
One of the factors influencing λmax is...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
The Antenna Complex

