Polyacrylonitrile/polyindole and poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/polyindole composites based quasi solid electrolyte materials for dye sensitized solar cells

In this study, polyacrylonitrile/polyindole and poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/polyindole composites are prepared by chemical polymerization by FeCl3 as an oxidant agent. Spectroscopic characterization of the polymers, and composites are investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. The thermal properties of the prepared conductive polymer composites are investigated by thermogravimetric analyses. Experimental design of the quasi solid electrolyte containing polyacrylonitrile/polyindole or poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/polyindole, including conventional iodide/triiodide is aimed at higher solar cell stability. Additionally, the TiO2 and TiO2@Ag composite photoanodes are studied by prepared quasi solid electrolytes to improve both efficiency and stability of solar cell. The efficiency values of prepared polyacrylonitrile/polyindole and poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/polyindole quasi solid electrolytes based dye sensitized solar cells are 8.49% and 8.04%, respectively, for conventional TiO2 photoanode, and 9.81% and 9.74% for TiO2@Ag composite photoanode, respectively. The solar cell stabilities of prepared quasi solid electrolyte based dye sensitized solar cells are better ~3–5% than dye sensitized solar cells with liquid electrolyte for 24 h.