Enhancing the Efficiency of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on a Metal Oxide Nanocomposite Gel Polymer Electrolyte

Abstract

In order to overcome the critical limitations of liquid electrolytebased dye-sensitized solar cells, quasi-solid-state electrolytes have been explored as a means of addressing long-term device stability, albeit with comparatively low ionic conductivities and device performances. Although metal oxide additives have been shown to augment ionic conductivity, their propensity to aggregate into large crystalline particles upon high-heat annealing hinders their full potential in quasi-solid-state electrolytes. In this work, sonochemical processing has been successfully applied to generate fine Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles that are highly dispersible in a PAN:P(VP-co-VAc) polymer blended gel electrolyte, even after calcination. An optimized nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte containing 3 wt% sonicated Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles (PVVA-3) delivers the highest ionic conductivity (4.62 x 10-3 S cm-1) of the series. This property is accompanied by a 51% enhancement in the apparent diffusion coefficient of triiodide versus both unmodified and unsonicated electrolyte samples. The dye-sensitized solar cell based on PVVA-3 displays a power conversion efficiency of 6.46% under AM1.5G, 100 mW cm-2. By identifying the optimal loading of sonochemically processed nanoparticles, we are able to generate a homogenous extended particle network that effectively mobilizes redox active species through a highly amorphous host matrix. This effect is manifested in a selective 51% enhancement in photocurrent density (J SC = 16.2 mA cm-2) and a lowered barrier to N719 dye regeneration (R CT = 193 Ω) versus an unmodified solar cell. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the highest known efficiency to-date for dye-sensitized solar cells based on a sonicated Co 3 O 4-modified gel polymer electrolyte. Sonochemical processing, when applied in this manner, has the potential to make meaningful contributions towards the ongoing mission to achieve the widespread exploitation of stable and low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells.

Bio and non‐bio materials‐based quasi‐solid state electrolytes in DSSC : A review

“…The gelator of nonbiomaterials of QSE such as polymer, 19,20 nanoparticle, 111‐113 carbon, 114,115 and composite 111,113,114,116,117 based electrolyte have been widely reported to improve the performance of DSSCs in recent years. The gel material formed from gelling processes can be called hydrogel, aerogel, or gel polymer electrolyte, depending on the preparation.…”

“…Polymer gel‐type QSEs are also incorporated with metal oxides such as TiO 2 , 134 SiO 2 , 129 ZnO, 135 NiO, 136 and Fe 2 O 3 137 . Accordingly, Saidi et al synthesized Poly(1‐vinylpyrrolidone‐co‐vinyl acetate) (PVVA)‐based QSE incorporated with porous Co 3 O 4 nanocube via sonochemical process 117 . The addition of 3 wt% Co 3 O 4 (PVVA‐3) decreased the bulk resistance (RB = 31.7 Ω) and increased the ionic conductivity up to 3.3 × 10 −8 cm 2 /s.…”

“…(A) EIS analysis, (B) Arrhenius plots, (C) Linear sweep voltammograms, and (D) J‐V curves of Co3O4‐modified QS‐DSSCs 117 …”

Fullerene-Tetrabenzofluorene (C60-TBF) in Multivalent Photosensitisation for Enhanced ZnO-based Photo-catalysts: Mono vs. Hexakis Adduct

“…1 Historically, metal oxide semiconductors have dominated trends in solar energy technologies, including light-harvesting photovoltaics, photo-catalysts. 2 Development of efficient photo-catalyst is an integral part of research for effective degradation of polluting dyes. Various semiconducting metal oxides, particularly zinc oxides (ZnO), can degrade different organic dye compounds.…”

Microstructural Development and Rheological Study of a Nanocomposite Gel Polymer Electrolyte Based on Functionalized Graphene for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The extensive use of DSSCs is, however, restricted by several phenomena such as degradation, leakage, dye desorption, thermal instability, and electrode corrosion, mostly due to the application of the conventional LEs [ 4 ]. In this regard, numerous studies have been devoted to substituting the conventional LEs with proper alternatives, like ionic liquids [ 5 , 6 ], solid-state perovskites [ 7 ], and solid/quasi-solid-state polymer gels and their composites [ 8 , 9 ].…”