Deep Eutectic Solvent Based Polymer Electrolyte for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

doi:10.15541/jim20160184

Abstract

Abstract:

A polymer electrolyte using agarose as polymer matrix, NMP as solvent and deep eutectic solvent (DES) as modifier was investigated and employed in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) of which the DES was composed by urea and choline chloride. The ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes with different urea /choline chloride ratio was studied. It was found that the maximum ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte was obtained at urea/choline chloride ratio of 2:1. Under the optimal urea /choline chloride ratio condition, electrochemical properties of the polymer electrolytes and the photovoltaic properties were systematically characterized by photovoltaic tests and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The results showed that both ionic conductivity of electrolyte and photovoltaic performances of the DSSC was optimized with DES content of 20wt%, where the device photovoltaic parameters were as follows, V_oc at 0.59 V, J_sc at 10.28 mA/cm², FF at 0.51, and the cell efficiency at 3.18%.

Key words: dye sensitized solar cell, deep eutectic solvent, urea, choline chloride, polymer electrolyte

CLC Number:

TM914

YANG Ying, ZHANG Zheng, GAO Jing, LIN Ze-Hua, YAN Jing-Yuan, GUO Xue-Yi. Deep Eutectic Solvent Based Polymer Electrolyte for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2017, 32(1): 25-32.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 Pictures of (a) DES based polymer electrolyte solution and (b) DES based polymer electrolyte film after drying

Fig. 2 UV-Vis spectra of electrolytes modified by DES with different urea/choline chloride ratios

Fig. 3 Structural representation of the DES with urea/ choline chloride of 2: 1

Fig. 4 Ionic conductivity of electrolytes with DES of different urea/choline chloride ratio

Fig. 5 SEM images of polymer electrolyte with different contents of DES(a) 0; (b) 10wt%; (c) 20wt%; (d) 40wt%; (e) 60wt%; (f) 80wt%

Fig. 6 UV-Vis spectra of electrolytes modified with different contents of DES

Fig. 7 Ionic conductivity of electrolytes modified with different contents of DES

Fig. 8 J-V characteristics of the DSSCs fabricated using electrolytes modified with different contents of DES

Table 1 Performance parameters of the DSSCs fabricated using electrolytes modified with different contents of DES

ω/ wt%	J_sc/(mA·cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	η/%
0	8.36	0.44	0.33	1.24 %
10	10.32	0.40	0.33	1.40%
20	10.28	0.59	0.51	3.18%
40	6.04	0.45	0.50	1.41%
60	3.46	0.47	0.54	0.91%
80	2.40	0.71	0.54	0.93%

Fig. 9 Bode plots of the DSSCs fabricated using electrolytes modified with different contents of DES

Fig.10 Influence of DES contents on electron lifetime in photoanode

Fig.11 Stablity test of Jsc, Voc, and η for DSSC fabricated using 40wt% EDS electrolyte

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