DSSCs with >9% PCE based on a new D–π–A dye (SK3) having carbazole as a donor, vinylene-phenylene (π-bridge) and cyanoacrylic acid as electron withdrawing–injecting as well as anchoring groups are reported.
Thermoreversible polymer gel has been prepared using PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer (Pluronic F77) which self-assembles into different microcrystalline phases like cubic, 2D-hexagonal, and lamellar. Addition of electrolyte (LiI/I(2)) converts the gel into a polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) which exhibits microphase-dependent ionic conductivity. The crystalline phases have been identified by SAXS as a function of the polymer concentration. It is found that the optimum value for the ionic conductivity (≈1 × 10(-3) S x cm(-1)) is achieved in the Im3m phase due to faster diffusion of ions through the 3D-interconnected micellar nanochannels. This fact is further supported by FTIR study, ionic transference number, and diffusion coefficient measurements.
Humic acid (HA), a natural polymer
and soil component, was explored
as a photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Photophysical
and electrochemical properties show that HA covers a broad visible
range of the electromagnetic spectrum and exhibits a quasi-reversible
nature in cyclic voltammetry (CV). Because of its abundant functionalities,
HA was able to bind onto the nano-titania surface and possessed good
thermal stability. HA was employed as a sensitizer in DSSCs and characterized
by various photovoltaic techniques such as
I
–
V
, incident-photo-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE),
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization.
The HA-based device shows a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.4%
under 1 sun illumination. The device performance was enhanced when
a coadsorbent, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), along with HA was used
and displayed 2.4% PCE under 0.5 sun illumination. The DSSCs employing
HA with CDCA showed excellent stability up to 1000 h. The reported
efficiency of devices with HA is better than that of devices with
all natural sensitizers reported so far.
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