Two different natural dyes containing anthocyanin extracted from cherry and beetroot from Iran. Spectrophotometric evaluations of the natural dyes in solution and on a TiO2 substrate were carried out in order to assess changes in the status of the natural dyes. The results show that the natural dyes indicate blue shift on the TiO2 substrates. The chemical absorption of natural dyes present at the surface of TiO2 substrate that their chemical binding can be increased by the chelating effect to the Ti (IV) ions. Finally, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were assembles by using cherry, beetroot and mixture of extract as natural photosensitizers of TiO2 films. Power conversion efficiency was successfully accomplished with extract fruit-based soar cells. The best power conversion efficiency (η=1.17%) was obtained by beetroot under AM 1.5 illumination achieved up to Jsc=3.42 mAcm-2, Voc=0.60V and fill factor=0.50. The power conversion efficiency of DSSCs sensitized with cherry and mixture of both natural dyes (1:1) were 0.69% and 0.88%, respectively. Natural dyes are suitable alternative photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells due to simple preparation method, low cost, environmentally friendly and widely available.
