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Thermal stability and electrical studies on hybrid and composite sol–gel quasi-solid-state electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Nanocomposite organic/inorganic materials made through sol–gel method can be applied as quasi-solid-state electrolytes aiming to overcome the common issues of evaporation, leaking and stability in dye-sensitized solar cells. Two different kinds of quasi-solid-state electrolytes, depending on the different interactions between silica as inorganic phase and organic substances such as polyethylene/or polypropylene oxide derivatives, are prepared by the sol–gel technique in room temperature. Release dynamics of volatile components from two types of quasi-solid-state electrolytes are studied by thermogravimetry (TG) in order to predict the stability or changes in composites during their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Two online coupled evolved gas analytical tools (TG-EGA-FTIR and TG/DTA-EGA-MS) are applied to test the gel electrolytes for accelerated thermal vaporization, degradation and decomposition processes as a function of temperature during dynamic heating in air. Stable solar cells based on the different quasi-solid-state electrolytes are constructed and characterized with current density curves exhibiting overall efficiencies varying from 2.9 to 4.2 % for thin TiO2 films sensitized with standard commercial dye.

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Acknowledgements

Intergovernmental bilateral financial support of researchers exchange within the Framework of the Agreement on the Scientific and Technological (S&T) Cooperation between the Hungarian and Hellenic Republic (Grant Nos. TéT_10-1-2011-0551, Hungary and No. 29 TARGET REGION 1, Greece) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Technological- Educational Institute of Western Greece, 26334, Patras, Greece

    Andigoni Apostolopoulou & Elias Stathatos

  2. Department of Physics, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Andigoni Apostolopoulou

  3. Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szt. Gellért tér 4, Budapest, 1521, Hungary

    Viola Nagygyörgy, János Madarász & György Pokol

Authors
  1. Andigoni Apostolopoulou
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  2. Viola Nagygyörgy
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  3. János Madarász
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  4. Elias Stathatos
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  5. György Pokol
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Correspondence to Viola Nagygyörgy, János Madarász or Elias Stathatos.

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Apostolopoulou, A., Nagygyörgy, V., Madarász, J. et al. Thermal stability and electrical studies on hybrid and composite sol–gel quasi-solid-state electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Therm Anal Calorim 121, 371–380 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4556-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4556-6

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