Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
09:30
Electrospinning of Photocatalytic Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: June 28, 2017
High efficiency solid state dye sensitized solar cells with graphene-polyethylene oxide composite electrolytes.
M Shaheer Akhtar1, Soonji Kwon, Florian J Stadler
1School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Solar Energy Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea 561-756.
Nanoscale
|May 10, 2013
Summary
Graphene and polyethylene oxide composite electrolytes enhance dye-sensitized solar cell performance. These novel solid electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity and efficient iodide ion generation, leading to improved solar energy conversion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Solid electrolytes are crucial for the development of safer and more efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
- Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based electrolytes offer flexibility but often suffer from low ionic conductivity.
- Graphene (Gra) has emerged as a promising additive to enhance electrolyte properties due to its unique structure and conductivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel composite electrolytes by combining graphene and PEO for DSSC applications.
- To investigate the effect of graphene on the ionic conductivity and ion transport properties of PEO-based electrolytes.
- To evaluate the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs utilizing the prepared graphene-PEO composite electrolytes.
Main Methods:
- Graphene (Gra) sheets were uniformly coated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) via ester carboxylate bonding.
- Composite electrolytes were prepared by incorporating varying amounts of graphene into the PEO matrix.
- Rheological analysis was performed to understand the influence of ionic interactions on viscosity.
- Ionic conductivity measurements were conducted at room temperature.
- Dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using the optimized composite electrolyte and characterized for photovoltaic performance.
Main Results:
- The graphene-PEO composite electrolyte demonstrated a large-scale generation of iodide ions within the redox couple.
- Rheological analysis indicated that ionic interactions significantly disrupted dipolar interactions, leading to decreased viscosity.
- A composite electrolyte containing 0.5 wt% graphene exhibited a superior ionic conductivity of 3.32 mS cm(-1).
- Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with the 0.5 wt% graphene-PEO composite electrolyte achieved a high overall conversion efficiency of approximately 5.23%.
Conclusions:
- The incorporation of graphene into PEO significantly enhances the ionic conductivity and ion transport properties of the composite electrolyte.
- The improved performance of DSSCs is attributed to the enhanced ionic conductivity and the facilitated generation of iodide ions.
- Graphene-PEO composite electrolytes represent a promising advancement for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.
