Consolidation of ion promoters into quasi solid-state (QSS) polymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2021
Abstract
Enhanced quasi solid-state (QSS) polymer electrolytes were developed by consolidating dissolved polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in a binary organic solvent of ethylene carbonate-propylene carbonate (EC-PC) with ion promoters such as 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII), sodium iodide (NaI) salt, and Iodine (I2). In this work, the concentration of I2 was varied to one-twentieth, one-fifteenth, one-tenth, one-fifth, and equal of the total weight of the NaI salt used. The purpose of this study is to investigate the dependence of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) performance on the concentration of I2. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy study confirmed that there is a complexation occurred between all materials used. The electrolyte consists of I2 with one-tenth of the weight of the NaI salt (I1/10 electrolyte) has achieved the highest ionic conductivity of 8.70 x 10-3 S cm-1 at ambient temperature. From the current density-voltage (J-V) study, DSSC based I1/10 electrolyte has achieved the best photovoltaic efficiency of 6.47%.
Keywords
Polyacrylonitrile, Iodide-Triiodide ions, Quasi solid-state polymer electrolyte, Dye-sensitized solar cell
Funders
Universiti Malaya (RK014-2019),Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology Center (CREST) Grant (PV027-2018)
Publication Title
Solid State Ionics
Volume
363
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS