High-performance quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell based on an electrospun PVdF-HFP membrane electrolyte

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising photovoltaic technology.
• Conventional DSSCs often utilize liquid electrolytes, which can suffer from leakage and volatility issues, impacting long-term stability.
• Developing stable, efficient quasi-solid-state electrolytes is crucial for advancing DSSC technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel electrospun polymer electrolyte membrane for quasi-solid-state DSSCs.
• To evaluate the performance and stability of DSSCs utilizing the developed membrane electrolyte.
• To compare the performance of the new quasi-solid-state DSSC with those using conventional liquid electrolytes.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) electrospun membrane.
• Activation of the membrane with an ionic liquid-based electrolyte solution containing iodide salts and additives in a carbonate solvent mixture.
• Fabrication of quasi-solid-state DSSCs using the prepared membrane electrolyte and characterization of their photovoltaic properties.

Main Results:

• The fabricated membrane electrolyte exhibited an ionic conductivity of 10^-5 S cm^-1 at 25°C.
• The quasi-solid-state DSSCs achieved an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.76 V, a fill factor of 0.62, and a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 15.57 mA cm^-2.
• The device demonstrated a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 7.3% and superior long-term stability compared to cells with liquid electrolytes.

Conclusions:

• The electrospun PVdF-HFP based quasi-solid-state electrolyte is a viable alternative to liquid electrolytes in DSSCs.
• The developed membrane electrolyte enables efficient power conversion and enhances the operational stability of dye-sensitized solar cells.
• This work contributes to the development of more robust and durable solar cell technologies.