Synthesis of organic plasticizer doped polymer electrolytes and their characterization for dye sensitized solar cell applications

Abstract

The photovoltaic technology is considered as the most promising one in the renewable energy technologies. Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has received great attention due to the simple fabrication procedures, environmental friendliness and high power conversion efficiency at low cost. It consists of four segments such as photoanode, sensitizer (dye), electrolyte and counter electrode. In DSSC, the electrolyte plays a vital role: dye regeneration and facilitation of electron transfer from the counter electrode to the working electrode. Iodide/triiodide (I-/I3-) redox couple is widely used in the DSSC, due to the suitable redox potential, rapid dye regeneration, slow electron recombination, good solubility, high conductivity, favorable penetration ability into the mesoporous semiconductor film and less light absorption. The liquid electrolyte gives higher power conversion efficiency compared to the gel and solid electrolytes, but it has major drawbacks such as sealing problems, evaporation of solvent, sublimation of iodine and short term stability. To avoid these problems polymer electrolytes are used in DSSC applications. The polymer electrolytes have several advantages, including high energy density, structural stability, lightweight, good electrode-electrolyte contact and favorable mechanical properties. Therefore, many researchers are focusing to replace polymer electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes. The first and second chapters deal with energy sources, solar energy, solar cells and their classifications, history of DSSC, important components of DSSC, electrolyte preparations, fabrication of DSSC, characterization techniques and photovoltaic parameters of DSSC. In chapter three, 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) doped PVDF/KI/I2 electrolytes were prepared. The crystallinity, ionic conductivity and surface morphology of the prepared 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) doped PVDF/KI/I2 electrolyte films were analysed. The ionic conductivity of 2