<![CDATA[Given growing global energy demand and the need for sustainable solutions, solar energy is a promising alternative. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are a cost-effective photovoltaic technology, and natural dyes as sensitizers have significant potential to improve their efficiency. This study explores the use of a natural dye from the Dewandaru fruit (Eugenia uniflora) in DSSCs by varying pH and concentration. Natural dyes offer an environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes, which are often expensive and less eco-friendly. In this research, Dewandaru fruit extract was used to sensitize TiO2 photoanodes, and the effects of varying pH (1.00, 1.66, 2.27, and 3.00) and dye concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10%) on optical properties and performance were analyzed. UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, cyclic voltammetry, and J-V measurements were used to assess absorbance, energy levels, and efficiency. Optical characterization results showed that changes in pH and concentration can affect the dye’s absorbance and energy band gap. The dye achieved optimal DSSC performance at pH 3.00, yielding a Voc of 0.425 V, Jsc of 0.053 mA/cm², a fill factor of 68.7%, and an efficiency of 0.01548%. The best dye concentration was 10%, achieving a Voc of 0.45 V, a Jsc of 0.105 mA/cm², a fill factor of 69.0%, and an efficiency of 0.0322%. The statistical analysis indicates that pH has a substantial positive effect on DSSC efficiency and band gap energy. Moreover, dye concentration significantly affects DSSC efficiency, light-harvesting efficiency, Jsc, and fill factor, with the most substantial effects on efficiency and Jsc. However, concentration appears to have a smaller effect on dye absorbance, band gap energy, and HOMO/LUMO values. The study indicates that Dewandaru fruit extract has potential as a natural dye for DSSCs, with performance varying with pH and concentration. ]]>
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