Efficiency and Stability Enhancement of Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on PEO Composite Polymer Blend Electrolytes

Abstract:

The composite polymer electrolyte consisting of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), KI, I₂ and TiO₂ was blended with low molecular weight poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and (PEG-MA)-Ru. The SEM images of these blended PEO electrolytes showed better dispersion of materials and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic study showed an increase in conductivity compared to that of composite PEO electrolyte. These results were consistent with enhanced efficiency of DSSCs using these blended PEO electrolytes. The energy conversion efficiencies of DSSCs using composite PEO-PEG, PEO-(PEG-MA)-Ru and PEO-PEG-(PEG-MA)-Ru polymer blend electrolytes were 5.47, 5.05 and 5.28, respectively compared to 4.99 of DSSC using composite PEO electrolyte. The long-term storage of unsealed DSSCs at room temperature for 93 days demonstrated that the cell efficiency gradually decreased to 0.49-1.88%. DSSCs assembled with composite polymer blend electrolyte showed a slower decrease than that of DSSC using composite PEO electrolyte. It was found that the composite PEO-PEG-(PEG-MA)-Ru polymer blend electrolyte of 1.0:0.1:0.1 weight ratio gave the best improvement in stability of DSSCs.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1131)
• Pages: 186-192
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1131.186
• Online since: December 2015
• Authors: Voranuch Somsongkul, Surassawatee Jamikorn, Atchana Wongchaisuwat, San H. Thang, Marisa Arunchaiya*
• Keywords: Composite Polymer Blend Electrolyte, Poly(Ethylene Oxide), Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

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