Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) gel polymer electrolyte incorporating with water-soluble sodium sulfide salt for quasi-solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cell

Abstract

Rapid decay of photoanode, leakage from sealant, and evaporation of electrolyte are always the major concerns of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) based on liquid electrolyte. Subsequently, gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) appears as an attractive solution in addition to lower cost, lighter weight, and flexibility. Poly(acrylamide- co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-PAA) is of special interest to act as a polymer host to entrap liquid electrolyte because it provides high transparency, good gelatinizing properties, and excellent compatibility with the liquid electrolyte. In this work, the electrical and transport properties of PAAm-PAA GPE incorporating with water-soluble sodium sulfide were characterized by impedance spectroscopy. An increment of ionic conductivity was observed with the incorporation of ethylene carbonate (EC) and potassium chloride (KCl). The highest room temperature ionic conductivity of PAAm-PAA GPE is 70.82 mS·cm−1. QDSC based on PAAm-PAA GPE with the composition of 1.3 wt% of KCl, 0.9 wt% of EC, 55.3 wt% of PAAm-PAA, 38.5 wt% of sodium sulfide, and 4.0 wt% of sulfur can present up to 1.80% of light-to-electricity conversion efficiency.

Review on Functional Electrolyte, Redox Polymers, and Solar Conversions in 3G Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies: Progress and Outlook

“…160 Lee at al. 38 reported a copolymer matrix of PAAm/PAA which contains sufficient carbonyl (>C�O) and carboxyl groups (−COOH), which makes it water-soluble and superabsorbent and facilitates coordination capacity toward alkali metal cations. The aerogel membrane possess more hygroscopic, waterholding, and electrolyte coordination capabilities.…”

“…Lee at al. 38 developed PAAm-PAA to improve surface exposure of polysulfide electrolyte and, thereby, 1.80% conversion efficiency. Wang et al 200 developed a polyelectrolyte gelator sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS-Na) for polysulfide electrolyte and hence for improving the defect passivation on the surface of the photoanode.…”

“…Lee at al . developed PAAm-PAA to improve surface exposure of polysulfide electrolyte and, thereby, 1.80% conversion efficiency.…”

“…8,37 The interfacial and functional interaction reduces unwanted charge recombi- nation between photoanode and electrolyte and thereby, recharges the functional activity of QDSCs. 38,39 Perovskite materials have long electron diffusion lengths and high absorption characteristic structures. 41−43 Recently, low cost perovskite solar cells are viewed as the next generation solar conversion (PCE >25%) system, which is an alternative of Si-based solar cells.…”

“…However, the activation energy of electrolyte is affected with high gelator content . Functionalized polyurethane electrolyte having an electron-rich pendant group behaves as single ion conductor. , The redox-active functional components create quantum confinement (HOMO–LUMO energy) in the polymer. , The interfacial and functional interaction reduces unwanted charge recombination between photoanode and electrolyte and thereby, recharges the functional activity of QDSCs. , …”