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Quasi-Solid-State SiO2 Electrolyte Prepared from Raw Fly Ash for Enhanced Solar Energy Conversion
Gyo Hun Choi1, Jaehyeong Park2,3, Sungjun Bae2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 28, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a quasi-solid-state electrolyte using fly ash silica (FA_SiO2) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This novel electrolyte enhances solar energy conversion efficiency and offers a stable, low-cost alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Conventional liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) face challenges with solvent leakage, evaporation, and long-term stability.
- Quasi-solid-state electrolytes offer improved stability and safety by immobilizing the liquid electrolyte components.
- There is a need for cost-effective and sustainable materials for quasi-solid-state electrolytes in solar energy applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize quasi-solid-state electrolytes based on fly ash silica (FA_SiO2) derived from raw fly ash (RFA) for DSSCs.
- To evaluate the performance of DSSCs utilizing these novel FA_SiO2-based electrolytes for solar energy conversion.
- To investigate the structural, morphological, chemical, and electrochemical properties influencing cell efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of quasi-solid-state electrolytes using raw fly ash silica (FA_SiO2) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).
- Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution field-emission scanning electron microscopy (HR-FESEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
- Performance evaluation of DSSCs through incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) measurements.
Main Results:
- The FA_SiO2-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte yielded a DSSC efficiency of 5.5%, surpassing nanogel electrolytes (5.0%).
- Enhanced cell efficiency was attributed to increased open-circuit voltage and fill factor.
- Improved electron transfer properties and reduced electron recombination were observed in DSSCs with the FA_SiO2 electrolyte.
Conclusions:
- Raw fly ash-derived silica (FA_SiO2) is a viable and effective component for quasi-solid-state electrolytes in DSSCs.
- The developed FA_SiO2-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte demonstrates superior performance compared to nanogel electrolytes.
- This approach presents a promising strategy for developing low-cost, stable, and efficient solar energy conversion devices.
