The influences of different bi-component supramolecular gel electrolytes on the photovoltaic performances of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell

Safety regulation of gel electrolytes in electrochemical energy storage devices

“…The LMOGs containing odd-numbered -CH 2 -groups owned higher T gel compared with those with even-numbered -CH 2 -groups, meaning that the former could construct a more stable network than the latter. The same group also tried to design and study many kinds of bi-component LMOG as co-gelators and applied them in DSSCs, including N,Nʹ-1,5-pentanediylbis-dodecanamide and 4-(Boc-aminomethyl) pyridine (herein, Boc is abbreviated for t-butyloxy carbonyl) [99], N,Nʹ-1,8-octanediylbis-dodecanamide and iodoacetamide [100], bisamide and valine [101], 1,6-diaminohexane and N,Nʹ-1,3-propanediylbis-dodecanamide, as well as adipic acid and N,Nʹ-1,3-propanediylbis-dodecanamide [102]. All of these LMOGs as co-gelators had positive change on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs and their thermal stability.…”

Chiral and conductive viologen-based supramolecular gels exhibiting tunable charge-transfer properties

“…19 The growing interest in conductive gels also comes from their numerous advantages over liquid electrolytes, including limited evaporation/leaking and flammability, and over polymeric electrolytes, with improved processability, recyclability, lifetime, and electric contact with electrodes. 20 Such conductive soft materials thus hold great promises in many different fields, such as for the development of solid electrolytes for lithium batteries, 21,22 dye-sensitized solar cells, 23,24 electromechanical actuators, 25 capacitors, 20,26 and conductive lubricant. 27 We have focused in recent years on the development of supramolecular gels built from LMWGs incorporating 4,4 0bipyridinium units.…”

Development of Rapid Curing SiO2Aerogel Composite-Based Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells through Screen-Printing Technology

“…To solve these current problems of electrolytes, many efforts have been made on the development of nonvolatile liquid electrolytes (such as ionic liquids) − and the modification of liquid electrolytes incorporating gelling agents (such as polymers, − inorganic nanoparticles, , and supramolecular or low molecular mass organogelators − ). In the gelling solidification approach, a quasi-solid (QS) sol–gel electrolyte in three-dimensional (3D) network structures can be generated through physical or chemical cross-linking to inhibit the leakage of the electrolyte and to improve the long-term stability of DSSCs. − As compared to the polymers as gelling agents, specifically, inorganic materials with abundant pores and large surface areas can bring about effectively interfacial interactions with liquid electrolytes to greatly improve the conductivity.…”

“…In the gelling solidification approach, a quasi-solid (QS) sol–gel electrolyte in three-dimensional (3D) network structures can be generated through physical or chemical cross-linking to inhibit the leakage of the electrolyte and to improve the long-term stability of DSSCs. − As compared to the polymers as gelling agents, specifically, inorganic materials with abundant pores and large surface areas can bring about effectively interfacial interactions with liquid electrolytes to greatly improve the conductivity. More importantly, the presence of inorganic particles can significantly increase the viscosity of electrolytes without affecting the PCE. − To date, SiO 2 , TiO 2 , SnO 2 , graphene (GR), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were widely reported as the gelling agents in the fabrication of QS-DSSCs. − For example, in addition to showing comparable PCE to that of liquid electrolyte solar cells, the QS-state DSSCs within SiO 2 nanoparticles as the gelling agents showed a great long-term stability and a high PCE (5.4%) together with ionic liquids . Each silica nanoparticle is held together by a London–van der Waals interaction between gravity and electrostatic repulsion. − Interparticle electrostatic repulsion seems to be ineffective because ionic liquids in electrolytes are extremely ionic strong, and surface charge screening is carried out.…”