Solar cells based on the use of photosensitizers obtained from Antarctic red algae

Dye sensitized solar cells assembled using red dyes extracted from Antarctic algae were evaluated. Among all collected algae, the best performances were showed with samples coming from Plocamium hookeri , Delesseria lancifolia and Iridaea obovata . Cells were evaluated using conventional electrochemical techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The measured conversion efficiency was lower than 0.04%, using solar simulator with a power of 1 sun, 1.5 AM.