The study of effect of metal ion Fe(III) on the chlorophyll as potential photosensitizer on dye sensitized solar cell

The energy crisis is major problem facing the world today, so it takes renewable energy source that are environmentally friendly and can be renewed, one of which is Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). DSSC is one of the photochemical electric cells that can convert solar energy into electrical energy. This research aims to study the characteristics of chlorophyll compounds with the addition of metal ions Fe(III) as well as determine the effect of metal ions Fe(III) on the performance of chlorophyll as photosensitizer in the DSSC. The formation of complex compounds of Fe(III)-chlorophyll shown by the phenomenon of Metal Ligand Charge Transfer (MLCT) at wavelength of 263.00 nm and absorption transition d-d at 745.00 nm. FTIR characterization of the binding of the Fe-O complex compounds appeared at 486.06 cm^-1. The complex compounds of Fe(III)-chlorophyll has higher conductivity value than the solvent (DMSO) indicating that the complex compounds are ionic. So the presence of metal ions Fe(III) on chlorophyll can increases the potential of chlorophyll as photosensitizer on DSSC.