Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte

Mohd Arof, Abdul Kariem and Aziz, M. F. and Mohd Noor, Mazni and Careem, M. A. and Bandara, L. R A K and Thotawatthage, C. A. and Rupasinghe, W. N S and Dissanayake, M. A.K.Lakshman (2014) Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39 (6). pp. 2929-2935. ISSN 0360-3199

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Abstract

This paper reports the effect of using a mixed iodide salt system with two dissimilar cations to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells made with polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) based gel electrolyte. Instead of a single iodide salt, a mixture of potassium iodide (KI) with a small K+ cation and tetrapropylammonium iodide (Pr4NI) with a bulky Pr 4N+ cation were used to provide the required iodide ion conductivity. Solar cells of configuration FTO/TiO2/Dye/electrolyte/ Pt/FTO were fabricated using a mesoporous TiO2 electrode sensitized with a Ruthenium dye (N719). With identical electrolyte compositions, the cells with KI and Pr4NI alone gave efficiencies of 2.37% and 2.90% respectively. The cell with the mixed iodide system, KI:Pr4NI = 16.6:83.4 (% weight ratio), however, showed an enhanced efficiency of 3.92% with a short circuit current density of 9.16 mA cm-2, open circuit voltage of 674.4 mV and a fill factor of 63.4%.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	4950/58500
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dye-sensitized solar cells; Gel electrolytes; Mixed cation effect; PVdF TiO2
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Centre for Foundation Studies
Depositing User:	Dr. Mazni Mohd Noor
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2017 11:29
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2017 11:29
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/58500

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