Photo-Rechargeable Organic-Inorganic Dye-Integrated Polymeric Power Cell with Superior Performance and Durability

In the present work, we propose a simple and unique approach to design a lightweight, low-cost, self-charging power cell with considerable capacity to generate and store photocharges named self-charged photo-power cell (SCPPC). Initially, highly electroactive sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-incorporated poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite thin films with a large dielectric constant of ∼525 are synthesized via a simplistic solution casting process. Then, the as-prepared high-dielectric SDS/PVDF thin film is used as a charge-storage medium in combination with an inorganic-organic dye film, i.e., ZnO nanoparticles-eosin Y-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) film, as a photoelectron generator in our SCPPC. An open-circuit voltage of ∼1.2 V is attained after charging SCPPC under illumination light with intensity ∼110 mW/cm² and then discharging fully with a constant current density of ∼4.5 mA/cm². A specific areal capacitance of ∼450 F/m² is obtained with large energy and power densities of ∼90 mWh/m² and 54 W/m², respectively. The improved overall efficiency, ∼3.78%, along with 89% storage efficiency leads to promising application possibilities of our rechargeable photo-power cell. The recyclability, i.e., rechargeability and storage durability, of the photo-power cell are also checked for 35 days without no such reduction in voltage generation and storage. Also, multicolored light-emitting diodes are lightened up using the photo-power cell as power source.