As Resin-based Polymer Gel Electrolyte For Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline with photoexcited dye molecules have been investigated intensively because of their low cost and potential alternative to traditional photovoltaic devices. In this paper, a novel polymer gel electrolyte based on poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) matrix, acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran binary organic mixed solvents was prepared. To improve ionic conductivity of the system, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, graphite powder, conducting polypyrrole nanoparticle as additives is added, respectively. The influence of preparation conditions and composition on the ionic conductivity of electrolyte and the performances of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells was researched, the conducting mechanism of the polymer gel electrolyte was discussed, and expectant results were obtained.(1) A polymer gel electrolyte based on poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) , acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran the binary organic mixted solvents was prepared. The influence of the concentration of poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene), organic mixted solvents and iodide salt on the ionic conductivity of the electrolytes and the performances of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells were discussed. The dependence of ionic conductivity for polymer gel electrolyte on temperature was investigated. The polymer gel electrolyte attains the maximum ionic conductivity (at 30 oC) of 5.11 mScm?1. Based on the polymer gel electrolyte, a quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated and its overall energy conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 2.56 % was achieved under irradiation of 100 mWcm-2.(2) Based on the above results, graphite powder and 1-methylimidazole as additives were added to improve the performance of the DSSC. The preparation condition was optimed, and conducting mechanism for the electrolyte system was discussed. Under the condition with additives concentration of 0.15 wt % graphite powder and 0.3 M 1-methylimidazole, a highest overall conversion efficiency of about 3.25 % was obtained under irradiation of 100 mW·cm?2.(3) The polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticle was prepared by using I2 as oxidant and adulterant. Using polypyrrole nanoparticles as additives, an optimized polymer gel electrolyte was prepared. The ionic conducting mechanism was concerned by measuing the dependence of temperature on ionic conductivity. The effect of the percentage of PPy nanoparticles on the photovoltaic properties of quasi-solid state DSSCs was discussed. Based on the polymer gel electrolyte with the optimized conditions, a quasi-solid -state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated and its overall energy conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 3.35 % was achieved under irradiation of 100 mW·cm?2.