title: Highly efficient gel-state dye-sensitized solar cells prepared using poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate) based polymer electrolytes.
abstract: Poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl acetate) (PAN-VA) is utilized as a gelation agent to prepare gel-state electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Based on the synergistic effect of PAN-VA and TiO(2) fillers in the electrolyte, the gel-state DSSC can achieve a conversion efficiency higher than that of a liquid counterpart. The high performance of the gel-electrolyte is attributed to the in situ gelation property of the gel-electrolyte, the contribution of the PAN-VA to the charge transfer, as well as the enhancement effect of TiO(2) fillers on the charge transfer at the Pt-electrolyte interface. The experimental results show that the efficiencies of the gel-state cells have little dependence on the conductivity of the electrolytes with various contents of PAN-VA, but are closely related to the penetration situation of the electrolyte in the TiO(2) film. For PAN-VA concentrations ≤15 wt%, the electrolyte can be easily injected at room temperature based on its in situ gelation property. For higher PAN-VA concentrations, good penetration of the high viscous electrolyte can be achieved by elevating the operation temperature. By utilizing a heteroleptic ruthenium dye (coded CYC-B11), gel-state DSSCs with an efficiency of above 10% are obtained. Acceleration tests show that the cell is stable under one-sun illumination at 60 °C.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Lun
authors: CL
authors: Chen
authors: Ting-Wei
authors: TW
authors: Chang
authors: Hsisheng
authors: H
authors: Teng
authors: Chun-Guey
authors: CG
authors: Wu
authors: Chia-Yuan
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Yu-Min
authors: YM
authors: Yang
authors: Yuh-Lang
authors: YL
authors: Lee