Poly(ionic liquid)/ionic liquid/graphene oxide composite quasi solid-state electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Poly(ionic liquid)/ionic liquid/graphene oxide (poly(IL)/IL/GO) composite gel electrolytes containing poly(1-butyl-3vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide), 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide and graphene oxide are prepared for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), without any volatile organic solvent. The conductivity of the composite electrolyte is significantly increased by adding a proper amount of GO, and the DSSCs based on composite electrolytes containing GO show higher power conversion efficiency performance and better long-term stability compare to that without GO. The DSSC based on the composite electrolytes which containing 2 wt% of GO show an overall power conversion efficiency of 4.83% under simulated AM 1.5 solar spectrum irradiation. The superior long-term stability of the DSSCs indicates that this type of composite electrolytes could overcome the drawbacks of volatile liquid electrolytes, and offer a feasible method to fabricate DSSCs in future practical applications.

Recent advances in graphene-based materials for dye-sensitized solar cell fabrication

“…134,149 Also, graphene/polymer or graphene/IL nanocomposites, result in the formation of interconnected networks, which not only provide efficient electron transport pathways through the electrolyte, but also enable the formation of quasi-solid state electrolytes, which reduce electrolyte evaporation and leakage, thereby, improving long-term operational stability. 153 Being motivated by this, Lin et al 154 155 also incorporated GO-hexa-methylene tri-butyl-ammonium iodide (GO-HMA-TBAI) and GO-hexa-methylene tri-methyl-ammonium iodide (GO-HMA-TMAI) into the PMII/1, 3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (DMII) composite IL electrolyte. This signicantly improved the PCE from 3.96% of the IL-based reference device to 5.09, 6.78 and 8.33% for the GO, GO-HMA-TMAI/PMII-DMII and GO-HMA-TBAI/PMII-DMII-based DSSCs, respectively.…”

Recent research progress on quasi-solid-state electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Chang et al [74] synthesized a novel polymeric ionic liquid (PIL), poly(oxyethylene)-imide-imidazole complex coupled with iodide anions (coded as POEI-II), and use for preparing the gel electrolyte for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QSS-DSSCs). POEI-II acted simultaneously as a redox mediator in the electrolyte and a polymer for the gelation of an organic solvent-based electrolyte.…”

“…Lin et al [75] prepared poly(ionic liquid)/ionic liquid/graphene oxide (poly(IL)/IL/GO) composite gel electrolytes containing poly(1butyl-3-vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), 1propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide and graphene oxide. The conductivity of the composite electrolyte is significantly increased by adding an appropriate amount of GO, and the DSSCs based on composite electrolytes containing GO show higher power conversion efficiency performance and better long-term stability compared with those without GO.…”

In situ thermal polymerization of an ionic liquid monomer for quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells

“…Due to their low production cost, easy‐handing fabrication, and high power conversion efficiencies, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest . Recently, impressive efficiencies over 13% have been successfully achieved by employing cobalt(II/III)‐based liquid electrolytes in conjunction with donor– π ‐bridge–acceptor zinc porphyrin dyes .…”

“…Although p ‐type semiconductors and hole conductors can solve some of these problems, the photoelectrical conversion efficiencies of these cells are still low and the stability is not satisfactory for practical use because of low hole‐conductivity, formation of crystals, and poor semiconductor–electrolyte interface interaction . Recently, due to their unique hybrid matrix and favorable properties, such as thermal stability, high ionic conductivity, good contacting, and filling properties, quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (Q‐DSSCs) based on nanocomposite gel and polymer gel electrolytes have attracted growing attention . Based on these polymer gel electrolytes, comparable efficiencies to the cells with liquid electrolytes have been obtained due to their favorable properties such as high ionic conductivity, good contacting with the nanocrystalline TiO 2 electrode, and counter electrode …”