Low Cost and Strongly Adsorbed Melamine Formaldehyde Sponge Electrolyte for Nontraditional Quasi-Solid Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Currently, the high cost and the time-consuming preparation of electrolytes of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QS-DSSCs) remain the key issue for the large-scale commercial fabrication of DSSCs. In this work, we propose a quasi-solid electrolyte based on a conductive melamine formaldehyde (MF) sponge scaffold for the fabrication of QS-DSSCs, which are MXene-MF, rGO-MF and PEDOT:PSS-MF. The three-dimensional porous structure in MF can quickly adsorb and store electrolytes, which shows high wettability, high organic solvent saturated adsorption capacity, and high electrical transmission performance. Specifically, the quasi-solid electrolyte prepared by this method can shorten the preparation method to less than 0.5 s, which also significantly reduces the preparation cost of the quasi-solid electrolyte. The QS-DSSC photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the melamine formaldehyde sponge can reach up to 7.822%. As compared with other conductive materials, MXene-MF is demonstrated to effectively improve the transmission performance of photogenerated electrons in the external circuit and the counter electrode interface. Meanwhile, the QS-DSSC based on MXene-MF has high catalytic activity, exchange current density, and IPCE. Specifically, the PCE reaches 26.92% under the indoor lighting condition of 1000 lux. Additionally, the QS-DSSC based on the composite sponge quasi-solid electrolyte exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties and long-term stability up to 90% in 1000 h. Finally, these QS-DSSCs based on the conductive MF sponge will have great promising potential in renewable energy applications such as flexible batteries and intelligent buildings.

Recent advances in the approaches for improving the photovoltaic performance of porphyrin-based DSSCs

“…On this basis, the development of novel electrolytes deserves further research for further enhancing the photovoltaic performance. 130–133…”

Molecular Engineering of Photosensitizers for Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Recent Developments and Perspectives

“…[193] At present, Zhicheng et al reported a high PCE of 26.92 % under indoor light condition (1000 lux) using a melamine formaldehyde sponge electrolyte in ss-DSSC and realized the stability of c.a. 90 % after 1000 h. [194] In this work, the mighty sponge was soaked in three type of various conducting fillers by immersing in electrolyte and prepared the quasi-solid electrolyte such as MXene-MF, rGO-MF, and PEDOT: PSS-MF (shown in Figure 25a). The obtained composite sponge electrolyte layer was employed between the photoanode and the counter electrode to assemble three quasi-solid electrolyte DSSCs.…”

“…The enhancement in J sc and FF under indoor light condition, is possibly due to MF fillers. [194] Copyright (2023), with permission from American Chemical Society.…”

“…(a) Schematic representation of the modified Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)À DSSC with various conductive fillers, and (b) J-V curves of MF sponge quasi-solid electrolyte DSSCs modified with various conductive fillers under 1-sun and indoor light conditions (1000 lux). Reproduced from Ref [194]. Copyright (2023), with permission from American Chemical Society.…”

Effects of Ti3C2Tx MXene Addition to a Co Complex/Ionic Liquid-Based Electrolyte on the Photovoltaic Performance of Solar Cells

“…These additives can control the potential of the redox couple, the surface state of the TiO 2 semiconductor, the shift in the conduction band edge, and the interfacial charge recombination through being incorporating in small amounts [ 20 ]. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene was introduced as an additive for electrolytes to improve the photovoltaic performance of quasi-solid-state DSCs [ 21 , 22 ]. Sun et al reported that, via the addition of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene to a quasi-solid-state electrolyte composed of an I − /I 3 − redox couple and a melamine-formaldehyde (MF) sponge, the average PCE of the DSCs under a room light condition (1000 lux) was improved by 26.92% from that of the reference cell without MXene (23.35%) [ 21 ].…”