a b s t r a c tPhotovoltaic technologies represent one of the leading research areas of solar energy which is one of the most powerful renewable alternatives of fossil fuels. In a common photovoltaic application the batteries play a key role in storage of energy generated by solar panels. Although it will take time for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and batteries based on biopolymer electrolytes to take their places in the market, laboratory studies prove that they have a lot to offer. Most efficient DSSCs and batteries available in market are based on liquid electrolytes. The advantages of liquid electrolytes are having high conductivity and good electrode-electrolyte interface whereas, disadvantages like corrosion and evaporation limit their future sustainability. Biopolymer electrolytes are proposed as novel alternatives which may overcome the problems stated above. In this review, we focus on fabrication, working principle as well as up to date status of DSSCs and batteries using biopolymer electrolytes. The effects of structural and electrical properties of biopolymer based electrolytes on the solar energy conversion efficiencies of DSSCs and their compatibility with lithium or other salts in battery applications are summarized. Biopolymer electrolyte based DSSCs are categorized on the basis of types of additives and recent outcomes of author's laboratory studies on biopolymer electrolyte based DSSCs and batteries are also presented.
Solid polymer electrolytes based on high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) complexed with lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) salt in various EO:Li molar ratios from 30:1 to 8:1 were prepared by using solution casting technique. Ion-polymer interaction, structural, thermal, and ionic conductivity studies have been reported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and impedance analysis. FTIR spectral studies suggested that the interaction of Li + cations with the ether oxygen of PEO, where a triple peak broad band centered at 1105 cm −1 , corresponds to C-O-C stretching and extreme deformation occurs. XRD, POM, and DSC indicated that the inclusion of LiDFOB salt could reduce the crystallinity of PEO. The melting temperature of PEO shifted to lower temperature side by the addition of LiDFOB. The glass transition temperature obtained for the system 10:1 was −38.2°C. An increase in the ionic conductivity from 3.95×10 −9 to 3.18× 10 −5 S/cm at room temperature (23°C) was obtained through the addition of LiDFOB to a high molecular weight PEO. In addition, the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte films followed an Arrhenius relation, and the activation energy decreased with increasing LiDFOB concentration.
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