{
  "abstract": "Physalis angulata L. (mullaca), a plant rich in chlorophyll, was investigated as a natural sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to promote sustainable photovoltaic technologies. Nanostructured TiO2 photoelectrodes were sensitized using ethanolic extracts of mullaca prepared under various extraction conditions to evaluate their influence on photovoltaic performance. The DSSCs were characterized using optical, structural, and photovoltaic techniques under simulated solar illumination. Furthermore, two mullaca sensitized devices (C5 and C6) were evaluated during a stratospheric flight via the “Astrotracker” payload, aboard NASA's High Altitude Student Platform (HASP). The best-performing device obtained in the laboratory (C3: leaves, 48-hour immersion) achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.21%, with an open-circuit voltage of approximately 0.64 V. The four top-performing laboratory devices (C1–C4) exhibited fill factors ranging from 0.64 to 0.71 at 25 °C and 1 atm. UV-vis spectra revealed absorption bands characteristic of chlorophyll-rich pigments, supporting their role in visible-light harvesting. During the stratospheric experiment, the two devices that underwent the flight maintained a measurable electrical response under conditions of low pressure and variable natural illumination. Data from the cells were recorded during the flight, and electrical parameters (VOC, raw ISC, Pmax and FF) were derived accordingly. These findings indicate that Physalis angulata can serve as a natural sensitizer for DSSCs and provide preliminary evidence of its electrical functionality under stratospheric flight conditions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Center for the Development of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, National University of Engineering Av. Tupac Amaru 210 Lima 25 Peru",
    "National University of Central Peru, Faculty of Chemical Engineering Peru"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Angie Pierina Perez Jara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Michael Celestino Cajavilca"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Clemente Alfredo Luyo Caycho",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8849-1729"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Harry Anderson Rivera Tito"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yanett del Pilar Huanca Villanes"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jaime Claros Castellares"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "María Esther Quintana Caceda",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2677-6179"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fhjwg73c9y6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6ra09523b",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13736794/",
  "id": "e0fhjwg73c9y6",
  "issns": [
    "2046-2069"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra09523b",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-3.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 3.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2105|TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7225290023",
  "pdf_url": "https://pubs.rsc.org/ra/article-pdf/doi/10.1039/d6ra09523b/15047991/d6ra09523b.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13736794",
  "pmid": "42991310",
  "published": "2026-11-05",
  "publisher": "Royal Society of Chemistry",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fhjwg73c9y6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:10Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13736794",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra09523b"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "heading:Chemistry",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Optoelectronic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells sensitized with chlorophyll-rich extracts from Physalis angulata L. (mullaca): laboratory and stratospheric evaluation",
  "title_text": "Optoelectronic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells sensitized with chlorophyll-rich extracts from Physalis angulata L. (mullaca): laboratory and stratospheric evaluation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:10Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fhjwg73c9y6",
  "venue": "RSC Advances",
  "versions": []
}