As per the research published in the Journal of Photovoltaics, scientists from Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee have come up with a very inexpensive dye sensitised solar cell (DSSC) using jamun.

DSSCs are solar cells that have thin film composed of a photoanode, layer of dye molecules, an electrolyte and a cathode. The photoanode is a porous layer of titanium dioxide. The dye molecules are used as they absorb sunlight and electrolyte is used to store the generated dye.

The dark colour of the jamun enables it to be a potential dye. The dye is extracted from jamun using ethanol. Many fresh berries, plums were also used that possessed the pigments similar to those that give characteristic colour to jamun. Then the process of centrifugation and decantation is carried out to separate out only dye. This colour pigment is called as anthocyanin which is later used as a sensitizer in the DSSCs.

This is a very efficient alternate source of energy at a point of time when fossil fuels are nearing depletion. India aims are generating huge amount of power for major sectors like dam or nuclear plants through non-fossil fuels. The mark is to achieve about 40 percent of power generation by non-fossil fuels until 2030.