title: Highly durable and efficient quantum dot-sensitized solar cells based on oligomer gel electrolytes.
abstract: For stable quantum dot-sensitized solar cells, an oligomer-contained gel electrolyte was employed with a carbon-based counter electrode and a hierarchically shelled ZnO photoelectrode. Poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl-ether (PEGDME) was added to the polysulfide electrolyte to enhance the stability of the methanol-based electrolyte. In addition, the nanocomposite gel electrolyte with fumed silica was used, which provided a solid three-dimensional network. A quantum-dot-modified ZnO nanowire photoanode enhanced the visible light harvesting, and a Pt/CNT-RGO counter electrode increased the catalytic activity. The oligomer gel electrolyte prevented the liquid electrolyte from leaking, and the carbon-based counter electrode retarded chemical poisoning at the counter electrode. The optimized cell exhibited 5.45% photoelectric conversion efficiency with long-term stability demonstrated over 5000 s operation time.
authors.affiliation: Surface Chemistry Laboratory of Electronic Materials (SCHEMA), Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) , Pohang 790-784, Korea.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Insung
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kijung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yong