1 research outputs found
Anisotropic One-Dimensional Aqueous Polymer Gel Electrolyte for Photoelectrochemical Devices: Improvement in Hydrophobic TiO<sub>2</sub>–Dye/Electrolyte Interface
Aqueous
photoelectrochemical devices have emerged recently as promising area
because of their economic and ecological friendliness. In the present
work, we have expedited surface active amphiphilic quasi-solid aqueous
polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) with hydrophobic sensitizer SK3 in water-based
dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). PGE was prepared from amphiphilic
block copolymer (PEO)–(PPO)–(PEO) with iodide–triiodide
couple in pure aqueous media without any organic solvent. This block
copolymer, with iodide-triiodide salt exhibits 1D-lamellar microcrystalline
phase which shows stability in the temperature range of 25–50
°C. Parallel (||<sup>al</sup>) and perpendicular (⊥<sup>ar</sup>) alignment of anisotropic lamellar microcrystalline phase
pertaining by PGE were characterized and applied in quasi-solid DSSC.
Temperature dependency of ionic conductivity, triiodide diffusion,
differential scanning calorimetry, viscosity, and 1-D lamellar anisotropic
behavior were studied. Surface active effect of PGE at the hydrophobic
dye sensitized photoanode was investigated and compared with liquid
water based electrolyte. Because of the amphiphilic nature and thermoreversible
sol–gel transition of PGE at a lower temperature (0 to −2
°C) allowing PGE to penetrate efficiently inside the hydrophobic
surface of dye–TiO<sub>2</sub> and resulted in a fused contact
between dye–TiO<sub>2</sub>/PGE interface. This aqueous PGE
successfully enhances the performance of DSSCs over liquid water based
devices by improving their <i>V</i><sub>oc</sub> and stability.
Under 0.5 sun illumination, DSSC with 1-D lamellar perpendicularly
align PGE shows an efficiency of 2.8% and stability up to 1000 h at
50 °C