PVdF-HFP Quasi-solid-state Electrolyte for Application in Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

A quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte is prepared by incorporating poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) in a propylene carbonate (PC) / 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) / 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) liquid electrolyte. The amount of PVdF-HFP in the liquid electrolyte is varied from 0.1 to 0.4 g. Incorporation of 0.1 g of PVdF-HFP decreases the conductivity of the DME/PC/MPII liquid electrolyte from 1.3×10^-2 to 5.6×10^-3 S cm^-1. Conductivity decreases gradually with increasing PVdF-HFP. No-flow “jelly-like” electrolyte samples are obtained for PVdF-HFP ? 0.2 g. The decrease in conductivity is the result of the decrease in ion mobility. Ion mobility was calculated by impedance spectroscopy. The PVdF-HFP quasi-solid-state electrolytes were assembled into dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The performance of the DSSCs was measured under illumination of a 100 mW cm^-2 Xenon light source. The DSSC without PVdF-HFP polymer shows an efficiency of 4.88% with short-circuit current density, J_sc of 11.24 mA cm

A quasi-solid-state polymer electrolyte is prepared by incorporating poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) in a propylene carbonate (PC) / 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) / 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) liquid electrolyte. The amount of PVdF-HFP in the liquid electrolyte is varied from 0.1 to 0.4 g. Incorporation of 0.1 g of PVdF-HFP decreases the conductivity of the DME/PC/MPII liquid electrolyte from 1.3×10^-2 to 5.6×10^-3 S cm^-1. Conductivity decreases gradually with increasing PVdF-HFP. No-flow “jelly-like” electrolyte samples are obtained for PVdF-HFP ? 0.2 g. The decrease in conductivity is the result of the decrease in ion mobility. Ion mobility was calculated by impedance spectroscopy. The PVdF-HFP quasi-solid-state electrolytes were assembled into dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The performance of the DSSCs was measured under illumination of a 100 mW cm^-2 Xenon light source. The DSSC without PVdF-HFP polymer shows an efficiency of 4.88% with short-circuit current density, J_sc of 11.24 mA cm ^{See more See less}