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Microporous gel electrolyte for quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell
Author(s) -
Qin Yuancheng,
Chen Xiaoxu,
Tang Qunwei,
Li Qinghua,
He Benlin,
Chen Kexin,
Jin Suyue,
Dai Weili,
Li Mingjun,
Xie Yu,
Gao Yunhua
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23808
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , materials science , quasi solid , electrolyte , microporous material , chemical engineering , polymerization , dielectric spectroscopy , solar cell , ionic conductivity , polymer chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , polymer , chemistry , composite material , optoelectronics , engineering
The extension of electrocatalytic reaction of I − /I 3 − from counter electrode/gel electrolyte interface to gel electrolyte can significantly enhance the redox kinetics and therefore conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells. Microporous gel electrolyte from polypyrrole integrated poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate/cetytrimethylammonium bromide) [PPy‐integrated poly (HEMA/CTAB)] is successfully synthesized by in‐situ polymerization of pyrrole monomers in three‐dimensional framework of porous poly(HEMA/CTAB) matrix. An ionic conductivity of 12.72 mS cm −1 and activation energy of 8.65 kJ mol −1 are obtained from PPy‐integrated poly(HEMA/CTAB) gel electrolyte. Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to characterize the electrocatalytic behaviors of the gel electrolytes. The resultant quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell shows a light‐to‐electrical conversion efficiency of 6.68%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2531–2535, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers