Ionic liquid effect for efficiency improvement in poly(methyl acrylate)/poly(vinyl acetate)-based dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Polymer electrolytes based on the blends of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) were prepared using tetrapropylammonium iodide (TPAI) salt and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) ionic liquid. Single transition between the glass transition temperatures of the constituents indicates the miscibility of PMA and PVAc over the entire composition range. The presence of TPAI and BMII does not affect the miscibility of PMA and PVAc. The complexation in the PMA/PVAc-TPAI-BMII is supported by the differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies. Conductivity increases by two order of magnitudes with the incorporation of 5 wt% of BMII. Conductivity increment is due to the extra charge carriers provided by BMII. Electrolyte films were sandwiched between titanium dioxide photoanode and platinum counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembly. The addition of BMII increases the efficiency of DSSC from 2.79% to 4.62%.

Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Electrolytes for Next-Generation Quasi-Solid Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: A Review

“…In addition, the performance of the QDSSC device can be further improved by the addition of binary salts in the electrolyte solution. For example, addition of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) with tetrapropylammonium iodide (TPAI) in a PMA/PVAc gel electrolyte system exhibited a 2 order of magnitude increase of ionic conductivity compared to the TPAI system alone, 282 while addition of BMII also increased the power conversion efficiency from 2.79 to 4.62%. The improved cell efficiency may be due to dissociation of BMII and TPAI allowing greater numbers of iodide ions in the electrolyte, which significantly improved the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte.…”

Synthesis and characterization of a new phenothiazine-based sensitizer/co-sensitizer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cell performance using a gel polymer electrolyte and Ni–TiO2as a photoanode

“…[60][61][62] As a result, many techniques have been implemented to enhance the conductivity of polymer electrolytes utilizing plasticizers, 63,64 inorganic fillers, 56,65,66 and ionic liquids. [67][68][69] The use of ionic liquids as a conductivity booster is our strategy. Organic cations and inorganic anions make up ionic liquids.…”