IIT-Hyderabad Builds An Eco-Friendly Solar Panel With Affordable “Kumkum” Dye

As we are literally going to use up our fossil fuel sources and pollute the planet along the way, solar power is the solution. While the energy is renewable and environmentally friendly, solar panels are unfortunately costly to build. But IIT-Hyderabad researchers have found a cheaper alternative.

According to scientists at IIT-Hyderabad, their new solar cells manufacturing method is low-cost and environment-friendly as well. Among other manufacturing materials, they decide to go with kumkum dye to manufacture DSSC (Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells).

The team used platinum-free counter electrodes, an aqueous electrolyte, and the New Fuchsin dye. Typical solar cells are made with silicon which is expensive. Moreover, the processing using silicon requires high temperatures, which will increase the carbon footprint.

So compared with the traditional method, this new one from IIT is cheaper as well as more eco-friendly, which is a plus.

According to Professor Sai Santosh Kumar Raavi, the project’s leader, the team has faced different challenges during their research since their materials, as opposed to silicon, were less powerful. Now that their research proves to be successful, it is worth taking note that the price for 1 kilogram of kumkum is no more than Rs 1,000. And it is easy to buy.

This development from IIT-Hyderabad follows close on the heels of Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research’s innovation. By changing the space between each gold nanoparticle, they have come up with a new material known as “black gold.” The result was a more powerful and more efficient solar cell.

If we want to make a revolution with renewable energy, these kinds of innovations are needed. Not only does it have a cheaper cost to produce, but it will also eventually reduce the pressure we put on our environment.