“PILI (CANARIUM OVATUM) DYE AS DYE- SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL”

DIGITAL PORTFOLIO
I. THE PROBLEM/ CHALLENGE

As of year 2020, 87% of the world’s population has accessed to electricity and
over 940 million (13% of the world) does not have it. In the Philippines over 2.3
million household remain without electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions rose by 6% in
2021 to 36.3 billion tonnes as the world economy strongly rebounded from Covid-19
pandemic and heavily relied on coal to power machineries and power plants
(International Energy Agency, 2022).
One possible solution is switching to renewable energy. A popular choice is
using Solar panels due to its low price and sustainable materials (Qureshi, 2021).
The per kWh rate as of April 2022 according to APEC is PHP 14.62 which is
considered relatively high compared to global standards. Albay has been affected by
power outages that widely affect the economy. Since the Philippines is
geographically located in the equatorial region, solar panels would be suitable as an
alternative power source provider
These power plants depend on fossil fuels to generate electricity which is non
- renewable. The world's main source of electricity is fossil fuels, a non-renewable
resource that may harm the environment. Therefore, shifting to renewable energy is
the solution, one example is solar energy. Solar cell is a device that converts light
energy into electrical energy through photovoltaic effect. The most effective and
efficient model is Dye - Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). It has the lowest production
cost and easiest fabrication process compared to other photovoltaic devices since it
uses natural dye. Canarium ovatum, locally known as Pili, has an exocarp often
discarded and thrown away; it contains a dark purple pigment commonly used as
dye which has phytonutrients with potential functional properties that are most likely
to absorb solar energy. This study aims to utilize disregarded Pili exocarp as an
alternative dye sensitizer for solar cell that can be a source of sustainable energy.
 II. RESEARCH
Review of Literature
An evident alternative energy source is the sun, which sends more than enough
energy to Earth. The energy we get from the sun is very important in process of
photoelectrochemical in fabrication of Dye- sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). It is a great
way for harvesting solar energy specially in our country because Philippines is
geographically located in the equatorial region which means that we are receiving
more sunlight. DSSC converts light energy into electrical energy that is used to
create current. It’s based on semiconductors formed between a photosensitized
anode and electrolytes (Taya et.al., 2013). It has the cleanest and lowest production
cost and the easiest fabrication process regarding other photovoltaic (PV) devices
which make these cells very attractive and extremely promising (Touihiri, Azizi, and
Gharbi, 2016). Although the energy conversion of the DSSC is lower than the energy
conversion of commercial solar cells, the DSSC is easier to replicate and has
cheaper materials making it affordable for most people.
In the production of DSSC, plants that are pigmented or dark in color produce
colorants. (Yusuf et.al., 2017) These colorants can also be distinguished as dye
which help energy from the sun convert it into electricity. There are two types of dye:
synthetic and natural dye. Synthetic dye are those who are hazardous to people and
mostly composed of chemicals while natural dyes mostly came from plants and eco-
friendly (Suabjakyong, et.al., 2011) The natural dyes may be extracted easily from
various flowers, fruits, and leaves which enhance the economical aspect and
produce significant benefits from the industrial point of view. In June 2010, dye
sensitized solar cell was constructed using natural dye extract from dragon fruit. In
2017, mangosteen pericarps has been successfully carried out using various
solvents and applied as a sensitizer in the fabrication of DSSC
Pili (Canarium ovatum) is abundant and locally grown in albay. Its outer layer
called exocarp are often considered waste but it contains a dark purple pigment that
contains phytonutrients with potential, functional properties.
Canarium Ovatum (Pili) that is locally available in the Philippines specifically
Albay province. It has been selected for its accessible and low in conservation cost.
Pili is an indigenous tropical nut- producing tree. Its fruit is ovoid to ellipsoid shape
which measures 5.0 to 8.0 cm long and weighing 15.7 to 45.7 grams. The Pili tree
grows in the Philippines' Bicol Region, several hundred kilometers south of Manila.
The pili tree yields more nuts as the season progresses. Ideal for the province's
location along the typhoon belt. (Chavez, 2013)
Almost every part of the Pili tree is utilized either as food, feed, fuel, or
handicrafts (Philippines, Department of Agriculture (Phil-DA), 2011), thus locally
dubbed as “tree of hope”. Pili is generally used for business purposes like different
delicacies in the Philippines. It takes on a completely distinct flavor and is unknown
to many is its delicious taste and great health benefits. Young shoots and fruit pulp
are both edible. The shoots are eaten raw, and the pulp is boiled and seasoned
before eating. The texture of boiled pili pulp is similar to that of a sweet potato; it is
oily (approximately 12%) and has food value comparable to that of an avocado. Pulp
oil can be extracted and used as a substitute for cottonseed oil in the production of
soap and culinary items. The rocky shells can be used as fuel or as a porous, inert
growing medium for orchids and anthuriums. The sap of the tree is sometimes used
to start fires, replacing gasoline. Fresh sap was collected from slashed tree trunks or
shallow incisions before it dried out completely. (Cavaletto, 1992)
The fruit-bearing grown in the Philippines like this Pili can produce highly
pigmented fruits likely to be rich in phytonutrients, particularly anthocyanin, and thus,
can also be potential sources of natural food dyes. The potential of this waste which
is the outer layer of the fruit or also called as exocarp contains a dark purple pigment
considered to be as dye. According to research, pigments that are dark in pigment
are more likely to absorb solar energy compared to light pigments (Aril- dela,
Bungihan, and Sagum, 2018) This dark natural dye can be used as sensitizer and
can affect the effectivity when used in making solar cells (Gasga, 2020) It possess
deep pigmentation that has phytonutrients with potential, functional properties.
Upon the absorption of sunlight, the dye molecules of the Canarium Ovatum (Pili)
exocarp that exicited with the ZnO coated counter conducting electrode. The dark
pigment of the extracted purple dye helps it to attract more solar energy and absorb
faster. The dye then becomes oxidized, once an electron is injected into the
conduction band of wide bandgap of ZnO. When the counter conducting electrode
merged together with the graphite that acts as a catalyst in the photo-electrode
where the electrolyte is between them, this is where the photoelectrochemical
process repeats. As the cycle begins, it will be extracted into a load which therefore
be delivered as an electrical energy (Jasim et.al., 2017) (Bose, et.al., 2015)

a. Data Collection
How it will be measured - methodology
DSSC transforms light energy into electrical energy, which is then used to
generate current. It works by forming semiconductors between a photo-sensitized
anode and electrolytes (Taya et.al., 2013). In measuring the millivolts of the stacked
DSSC with Pili dye, the multimeter will be set in of 2000m.
Checking the weather condition first and then attaching the alligator clips to the
multimeter leads. Black alligator clip to black multimeter lead and red alligator clip to
red multimeter lead. The researcher will go outside and test the amount of voltage it
produces by attaching the other ends to the overhanging glass on each side of ITO
glass with carbon and Pili dye. The result of the model will be divided to 1000 and
that will be the final reading of the voltage that the Dye- sensitized Solar Cell
produces.
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III. Engineering Design Process Sheet

 Engineering How Demonstrated Notes
Design Steps
1. Identifying Recurring power outages and
problem or rotational blackouts in the Philippines
challenge has been so frequent lately most
specifically in Albay province which
is a part of Luzon area. High
electricity costs as becoming more
prominent and has been affecting a
lot of Filipinos.

The Philippines is facing an

impending energy crisis as the
Malampaya natural gas reserves,
which supply roughly one-third of the
energy demands of Luzon island, are
predicted to be drained by 2024
according to the news by Business
World last January 24, 2023.

With a growing population and some

of the highest electricity rates in
Southeast Asia, the country faces
serious energy production difficulties.
Because of the rapid and substantial
recovery, weather conditions in many
regions of the world, maintenance
work that had been delayed,
changing decisions made by gas and
oil firms, exporting products to
minimize investments, energy prices,
and other factors have been affecting
the sudden increased of the energy
since 2021.

The researcher aims to construct a

Dye- sensitized Solar Cell made of
Pili (Canarium Ovatum) dye and ZnO
(Zinc Oxide) on ITO Glass that will
benefit local consumers,
manufacturers, and people on the
community and the country.
2. Exploring ideas The potential of Pili (Canarium
related to solving Ovatum) dye as DSSC has attracted
the problem or attention of the researcher due to the
challenge ease of fabrication and cost
effectiveness. The researcher used
Pili dye as photosensitizer which can
attract more sunlight because of its
dark pigment.
From the last few years,
DSSC is making a great
progress that has been
made in various aspects
such as efficiency
commonly solar panels are
made out of silicon and is
truly effective. However,
although silicon based solar
panels can gain more solar
energy, the DSSC has its
attractive features like low-
cost, ease of production, the
accessibility of materials
and even good performance
under certain conditions
which is beneficial for
people. (Bose, Genwa, and
Soni, 2015).
4. How scientific investigation was used. (detailed in SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
PROCESS SHEET) - mam susan
5. How STEM is used or related to solving the problem. (detailed in STEM
APLICATION SHEET) – mam ella

6. Model/ prototype Pictures

A model in this study might be built and the Pili dye will have a potential in building a
solar panel.

Figure 1: Shows the Front view and Back view of the DSSC

DSSC Front view DSSC Back view

ITO Glass
Binder Clip Binder Clip

Photoanode Counter ITO Glass

Electrode

Figure 2: Shows the Device Structure of DSSC

ITO glass
Redox Electrolyte
Zinc Oxide with Pili dye
Catalyst
ITO glass
 Figure 3: Shows the Working Principle of DSSC

Photoanode
Catalyst
Dye

Working Electrolyte Counter

Electrode Electrode
l-

e - e -
e- e -
Photon e-

l3-

e- e- e-

Load

e- e-

When DSSC is exposed to the photons, dye molecules that are mounted on

the surface of semiconductor photoanode layer will absorb the incoming photon. The

photoexcitation of the dye will cause an injection of electrons into semiconductor

photoanode layer. The injected electrons will disperse trough the semiconductor

photoanode structure and emits through the working electrode, external load and

proceed to the counter electrode. Next, the redox electrolyte will act as the mediator

to fetch the electrons which arrived at the counter electrode and regenerate the

oxidized electrons in the dye. Molecules. The cycle will continue repeated with the
presence of photon in the environment. (Jamalullail, Smohamad, Nnorizan, and

Mahmed, 2018)

Documentation
7. Business Model
The Need-
Development Plan-
Marketing Plan-
Budget-
Materials Budget Quantity

Exocarps of riped Pili 25.00g

Ethanol 10 ml

Iodine 0.0127 g

Potassium Iodide 0.083 g

ITO glass sheets 10 pcs

Dish soap 10 ml

AWG Cables 2 pcs

Binder Clips 2 pcs

Alligator Clips 2 pcs

Zinc Oxide 250 g

Acetic acid 10 ml

Distilled Water 1L

Beaker 3 pcs
 Container 5 pcs

Watch glass 1 pc

Candle 5 pcs

Dropper 2 pcs

Hot plate 1 pc

Tweezers 1 pc

Thong 1 pc

Scissors 1 pc

Matches 1 box

Kitchen peeler 1 pc

Tissue 1 pc

Paper tape 1 pc

Glass rod 1 pc

Multimeter 1 pc