Enhancing the efficiency of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by adding bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt and camphorsulfonic acid to gel-based electrolytes.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt and camphorsulfonic acid were added to the gel-based electrolytes for DSSCs. • Lithium salt and camphorsulfonic acid can enhance the conductivity of the electrolytes. • Adding lithium salt and camphorsulfonic acid to the gel-based electrolytes effectively enhanced the DSSC efficiency. • The DSSC devices with the gel-based electrolytes exhibited a longer stability. Abstract In this study, gel-based electrolytes were produced by mixing a liquid-based electrolyte with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which served as a gelator to enhance the stability of the electrolytes and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Furthermore, bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt (LiTFSI) and camphorsulfonic acid (C 10 H 16 O 4 S) were separately added to the gel-based electrolytes. The results indicate that adding LiTFSI and C 10 H 16 O 4 S to the gel-based electrolytes effectively enhanced the device efficiency. In particular, the device with the 1:1 + 0.1 M LiTFSI gel-based electrolyte exhibited the optimal efficiency (7.33%), which was higher than that observed in the device with the liquid-based electrolyte. The results also proved that the DSSC devices with the gel-based electrolytes exhibited a longer stability. Therefore, using optimized gel-based electrolytes can enhance the power conversion efficiency and stability of DSSC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]