Impact of tetrabutylammonium, iodide and triiodide ions conductivity in polyacrylonitrile based electrolyte on DSSC performance

Abstract

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) with polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based polymer, ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) plasticizers, and different amounts of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) salt and iodine (I2) have been prepared and used in dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The maximum room temperature conductivity of 5.14 mS cm−1 is obtained for electrolyte with a composition of 8 wt% PAN-30 wt% EC-30 wt% PC-30 wt% TBAI-2 wt% I2 (S3 electrolyte) which influenced by the highest charge carrier density of 7.93 × 1020 cm−3 estimated from fitting the impedance Nyquist plot. The DSSC fabricated with S3 electrolyte revealed the highest power conversion efficiency of 3.45% with open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 582 mV and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 12.9 mA cm−2. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of the DSSC with highest efficiency is 54.01%. The electrical impedance spectroscopy of the same cell shows the lowest series resistance indicating the superiority of electrolyte charge transport characteristics in DSSC. In addition, electron transfer time constant and electron recombination time , charge collection efficiency , electron diffusion coefficient and diffusion length of DSSC fabricated with GPEs prepared have been estimated by intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy techniques. The DSSC with highest efficiency shows lowest of 34.46 ms and highest of 90.41 ms due to the huge amount of TBA+ ions that covered the surface area of mesoporous TiO2. The of 0.62, D of 4.00 × 10−5 cm2 s−1 and of 19.02 μm further support the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC.

Recent developments in metal‐free organic sensitizers derived from carbazole, triphenylamine, and phenothiazine for dye‐sensitized solar cells

“…Thus, recently many researchers have attempted to optimize DSSC materials to get high efficiency and also developed different materials to replace metal-free dyes, Pt, and liquid electrolyte to decrease the cost and increase the mechanical, electrochemical, and long-term stability of the DSSCs. 10,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] In specific, sensitizers must have some essential characteristics for their effective performance, that is, a large and fast absorption from the visible to the near-infrared region, 27 chemical stability of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) rates for the F I G U R E 1 Schematic illustration of DSSC [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com] successful introduction of charges into the TiO 2, 28 and regeneration of the dye from the electrolyte, strong photostability, and solubility to prevent recombination. 29 On the other hand, Ru-bipyridyl compounds (N719, N3, and black dye) are the most effective dyes in the matter of performance.…”

Characteristics of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Assembled from Modified Chitosan-Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes Incorporated with Potassium Iodide

“…First, in the sample of I1, increasing Jsc to its maximum value represents more free carriers transferred from the electrolyte to the photo-anode, but Voc decreased to its minimum value. The reason for these changes is explained by the downshift of the conduction band and the Fermi level of TiO 2 more toward the redox potential because of the increasing number of free ions in GPE and more free cations will be adsorbed and accumulated on the TiO 2 mesoporous surface [ 57 , 58 , 59 ]. It is noticeable that the value of the DSSC efficiency was significantly enhanced from 0.06% to 3.57% up on adding of 0.0003 mol of KI/I 2 .…”

Determination Of The Characteristics Of Polymer-Containing Electronic Elements Using A Mobile Device

“…In addition, the electron transfer time constant and electron recombination time t rek, charge collection efficiency ē, electron scattering coefficient D and DSSS length with prepared GPE were calculated by intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy and intensity modulated photovolt spectroscopy methods prepared by LP. [3] Preparation of gel polymer paint and obtaining photogalvanic characteristics of its physical quantities determine the resistance of the prepared photocell to the physical impacts occurring during the work process by conducting spectroscopic observations of chemical impedances. [3][4] Materials Since this article is an observation of experimental work, an oscilloscope was used, and for comparison, a voltmeter and perometer, wattmeter, current source, sinusoidal and non-harmonic vibration generators, an ultrasonic generator, and mechanisms representing several types of mechanical deformation were used.…”

“…(2) Or permeability (3) and are constant in formulas ( 2) and ( 3),appropriate for a specific temperature range specific to each semiconductor. If a large number of such intervals are observed, the permeability indicates the purity of the observed element, large amount of foreign matter entering the compound.…”