OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BANDGAP ANALYSIS OF Canarium schweinfurthii, Telfaira occidentalis AND Curcuma longa EXTRACT AS NATURAL SENSITIZERS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS

In this study the optical properties and bandgap of natural dye extracted from Canarium schweinfurthii (ubemgba) leaf, Telfaira occidentalis (pumpkin) leaf, and Curcuma longa (turmeric) were investigated using solvent extraction method. In particular, the optical properties of the extracts were investigated using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Results show that Canarium schweinfurthii, Telfaira occidentalis, and Curcuma longahave absorption peak of approximately 420nm, 530 nm and 465nm respectively which are within the visible spectrum of white light with band gaps 2.48eV, 3.13eV, and 2.41eV respectively. These optical properties show that the analyzed dyes are transparent in the visible region and have the potentials of dye – sensitized solar cell application