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Abstract: A novel thixotropic composite electrolyte was fabricated by using the amine group-functionalized silica nanoparticles as the gelator of an ionic liquid-based electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The SEM image of electrode deposited with electrolyte confirms that the high viscous gel electrolyte has a good contact with TiO2 electrode ascribed to the thixotropic property of the electrolyte. Based on the thixotropic and ionic liquid based-electrolyte containing the amine group-functionalized silica particles, the cells show better performance owing to the increased open-circuit voltage than that of the liquid device, yield a high energy conversion efficiency of 6.69% under AM 1.5 illumination at 100mVcm−2 when the content of the amine group-functionalized silica is 15wt.% and exhibit a long-term stability without sealing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new kind of carboxyl group-functionalized silica nanoparticles were synthesized and employed as framework to form “soggy sand” electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The property of this electrolyte has been evaluated by studying the effect of the carboxyl group-functionalized silica nanoparticles content on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. The cells based on electrolyte containing the carboxyl group-functionalized silica nanoparticles show better performance owing to the increased short-circuit photocurrent than that of the liquid device and yield the energy conversion efficiency of 7.1% under AM 1.5 illumination at 100mVcm−2 when the content of the carboxyl group-functionalized silica is 15wt.%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 1-Oligo(ethylene oxide)-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PEOMImI) was synthesized and applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by blending it with different 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium iodides used as ionic liquid electrolytes. The 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PMII) blend enabled the DSSC to attain a higher solar energy conversion efficiency of 4.52% under a light intensity of 100mWcm−2. The addition of N-methylimidazole (NMBI) to the electrolytes increased the conversion efficiency as compared to DSSCs based on NMBI-free electrolytes. The addition of both 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (AMII) and NMBI enabled DSSCs to reach their highest solar energy conversion efficiency of 6.14% under a light intensity of 100mWcm−2. The ionic conductivity and diffusion coefficient of the triiodide were found to be augmented dramatically after adding NMBI, which leads to an increase in the photocurrent density. The enhancement mechanism of NMBI in the electrolyte was investigated by Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, and it was mainly due to the enhancement of electron exchange in electrolytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Poly(vinylpyridine-co-ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (P(VP-co-MEOMA)) and α,ω-diiodo poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) (I[(EO)0.8-co-(PO)0.2] y I) were synthesized and used as chemically cross-linked precursors of the electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. Meanwhile, α-iodo poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) methyl ether (CH3O[(EO)0.8-co-(PO)0.2] x I) was synthesized and added into the electrolyte as an internal plasticizer. Novel polymer electrolyte resulting from chemically cross-linked precursors was obtained by the quaterisation at 90°C for 30min. The characteristics for this kind of electrolyte were investigated by means of ionic conductivity, thermogravimetric and photocurrent–voltage. The ambient ionic conductivity was significantly enhanced to 2.3×10−4 Scm−1 after introducing plasticizer, modified-ionic liquid. The weight loss of the solid state electrolyte at 200°C was 1.8%, and its decomposition temperature was 287°C. Solid state dye-sensitized solar cell based on chemically cross-linked electrolyte presented an overall conversion efficiency of 2.35% under AM1.5 irradiation (100mWcm−2). The as-fabricated device maintained 88% of its initial performance at room temperature even without sealing for 30 days, showing a good stability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]