Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An imidazolium iodide–containing hyperbranched polymer ionic liquid that improves the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymer Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized an imidazolium iodide–containing hyperbranched polymer ionic liquid (HPIL) for use as the gel electrolyte of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We incorporated HPIL at various contents (4, 8, and 15 wt%) in a solvent-free ionic liquid (1-propyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate)–based quasi-solid gel electrolyte (IL-A) and a solvent (3-methoxypropionitrile)-based fluid gel electrolyte (IL-B). After fabricating N719 dye–based DSSCs incorporating the HPIL/IL-A and HPIL/IL-B gel electrolytes, we recorded the electrochemical impedance spectra and measured the photovoltaic (PV) performance of these devices. In the dark, the DSSCs incorporating HPIL exhibited higher charge recombination resistances at the interface between TiO2/dye and the electrolyte. This high recombination resistance suppressed the dark current and improved the PV performance of the devices incorporating HPIL. The DSSCs fabricated from the HPIL/IL-B gel electrolyte displayed higher photo-conversion efficiency, while those fabricated from the HPIL/IL-A gel electrolyte provided superior operational stability. Under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm−2), we measured a photo-conversion efficiency of 7.18 %, a short-circuit current density of 16.09 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.69 V, and a fill factor of 0.65 for the DSSC incorporating the gel electrolyte HPIL/IL-B (4:96, w/w). The DSSC incorporating the gel electrolyte HPIL/IL-A (15:85, w/w) exhibited good operational stability, retaining approximately 93 % of its original efficiency after 500 h.

An imidazolium iodide-containing hyperbranched polymer ionic liquid HPIL was synthesized for use as the gel electrolyte of dye-sensitized solar cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O’Regan B, Gratzel M (1991) A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353:737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Smestad GP (1998) Education and solar conversion: demonstrating electron transfer. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 55:57–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nazeeruddin MK, Kay A, Rodicio I, Baker RH, Muller E, Liska P, Vlachopoulos N, Gratzel M (1993) Conversion of light to electricity by cis-X2bis(2,2´-bipyridyl-4,4´-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) charge-transfer sensitizers (X = Cl−, Br–, I–, CN−, and SCN−) on nanocrystalline titanium dioxide electrodes. J Am Chem Soc 115:6382–6390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yu P, Zhang F, Li M, He R (2015) Influence of position of auxiliary acceptor in D–A–π–A photosensitizes on photovoltaic performances of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci 50:7333–7342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smestad GP (2003) Dye sensitized and organic solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 76:1–2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang H, Zhang X, Gong F, Zhou G, Wang ZS (2012) Novel ester-functionalized solid-state electrolyte for highly efficient all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Mater 24:121–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yang H, CZ Y, Song QL, Xia YY, Li FY, Chen ZG, Li XG, Yi T, Huang CH (2006) High-temperature and long-term stable solid-state electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells by self-assembly. Chem Mater 18:5173–5177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Suryanarayanan V, Lee KM, Ho WH, Chen HC, Ho KCA (2007) Comparative study of gel polymer electrolytes based on PVDF-HFP and liquid electrolytes, containing imidazolinium ionic liquids of different carbon chain lengths in DSSCs. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 91:1467–1471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen CL, Teng H, Lee YL (2011) In-situ gelation of electrolytes for highly efficient gel-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv Mater 23:4199–4204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Anantharaj G, Joseph J, Selvaraj M, Jeyakumar D (2015) Fabrication of stable dye sensitized solar cell with gel electrolytes using poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(ethylene glycol). Electrochim Acta 176:1403–1409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Han H, Liu W, Zhang J, Zhao XZ (2005) A hybrid poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinylidene fluoride)/TiO2 nanoparticle solid-state redox electrolyte for dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells. Adv Funct Mater 15:1940–1944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kim JH, Jung HS, Park CH, Kang TJ (2014) Porous PVdF-HFP/P123 electrolyte membrane containing flexible quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells produced by the compression method. J Phys Chem Solids 75:31–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dissanayake MAKL, Jayathissa R, Seneviratne VA, Thotawatthage CA, Senadeera GKR, Mellander BE (2014) Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based quasi-solid electrolyte with binary iodide salt for efficiency enhancement in TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells. Solid State Ionics 265:85–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang Y, Zhao J, Sun B, Chen X, Li Q, Qiu L, Yan F (2012) Performance enhancement for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by using acid-oxidized carbon nanotube-based gel electrolytes. Electrochim Acta 61:185–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hsu YC, Tseng LC, Lee RH (2014) Graphene oxide sheet-polyaniline nanohybrids for enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Polym Sci Polym Phys 52:321–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yuan S, Tang Q, Hu B, Ma C, Duan J, He B (2014) Efficient quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells from graphene incorporated conducting gel electrolytes. J Mater Chem A 2:2814–2821

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chang LY, Lee CP, Li CT, Yeh MH, Ho KC, Lin JJ (2014) Synthesis of a novel amphiphilic polymeric ionic liquid and its application in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem A 2:20814–20822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Seo DW, Sarker S, Nath NCD, Choi SW, Ahammad AJS, Lee JJ, Kim WG (2010) Synthesis of a novel imidazolium-based electrolytes and application for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 55:1483–1488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chen X, Li Q, Zhao J, Qiu L, Zhang Y, Sun B, Yan F (2012) Ionic liquid-tethered nanoparticle/poly(ionic liquid) electrolytes for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 207:216–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang G, Zhuo S, Wang L, Fang S, Lin Y (2012) Mono-ion transport electrolyte based on ionic liquid polymer for all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy 86:1546–1551

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wei TC, Wan CC, Wang YY (2007) Preparation and characterization of a micro-porous polymer electrolyte with cross-linking network structure for dye-sensitized solar cell. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 91:1892–1897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Li F, Cheng F, Shi J, Cai F, Liang M, Chen J (2007) Novel quasi-solid electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Power Sources 165:911–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nogueira AF, Longo C, Paoli MAD (2004) Polymers in dye sensitized solar cells: Overview and perspectives. Coord Chem Rev 248:1455–1468

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang M, Xiao X, Zhou X, Li X, Lin Y (2007) Investigation of PEO-imidazole ionic liquid oligomer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 91:785–790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kang J, Li W, Wang X, Lin Y, Xiao X, Fang S (2003) Polymer electrolytes from PEO and novel quaternary ammonium iodides for dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 48:2487–2491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li M, Feng S, Fang S, Xiao X, Li X, Zhou X, Lin Y (2007) The use of poly(vinylpyridine-co-acrylonitrile) in polymer electrolytes for quasi–solid dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 52:4858–4863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Suresh T, Joseph J, Son KM, Vital R, Lee J, Kim KJ (2007) Effects of pH of a hybrid gel incorporated with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on the performance of a quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cell. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 91:1313–1318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lee RH, Chi CH, Hsu YC (2013) Platinum nanoparticle/self-doping polyaniline composite based counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Nanopart Res 15:–1733

  29. Lee RH, Cheng TF, Chang JW, Ho JH (2011) Enhanced photovoltaic performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells via incorporating quaternized ammonium iodide-containing conjugated polymer into PEO gel electrolytes. Colloid Polym Sci 289:817–829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lee RH, Liu JK, Ho JH, Chang JW, Liu BT, Wang HJ, Jeng RJ (2011) Synthesis of quaternized ammonium iodide-containing conjugated polymer electrolytes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Polym Int 60:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rajkumar T, Rao GR (2008) Investigation of hybrid molecular material prepared by ionic liquid and polyoxometalate anion. J Chem Sci 120:587–594

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Krasovec UO, Berginc M, Hocevar M, Topic M (2009) Unique TiO2 paste for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 93:379–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Zervaki GE, Roy MS, Panda MK, Angaridis PA, Chrissos E, Sharma GD, Coutsolelos AG (2013) Efficient sensitization of dye-sensitized solar cells by novel triazine-bridged porphyrin–porphyrin dyads. Inorg Chem 52:9813–9825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Lee CP, Chen PY, Vittal R, Ho KC (2010) Iodine-free high efficient quasi solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell containing ionic liquid and polyaniline-loaded carbon black. J Mater Chem 20:2356–2361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lan Z, Wu J, Lin J, Huang M, Li P, Li Q (2008) Influence of ionic additives NaI/I2 on the properties of polymer gel electrolyte and performance of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochim Acta 53:2296–2301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Biancardo M, West K, Krebs FC (2007) Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells: Pt and PEDOT:PSS counter electrodes applied to gel electrolyte assemblies. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 187:395–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhao J, Shen X, Yan F, Qiu L, Lee S, Sun B (2011) Solvent-free ionic liquid/poly(ionic liquid) electrolytes for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Chem 21:7326–7330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lai YH, Chiu CW, Chen JG, Wang CC, Lin JJ, Lin KF, Ho KC (2009) Enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells by incorporating nanosilicate platelets in gel electrolyte. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 93:1860–1864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the Minstry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan for financial support (grant MOST 104-2221-E-005-065-MY3).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Lin-Chieh Tseng, Meng Kuo & Rong-Ho Lee

Authors
  1. Lin-Chieh Tseng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meng Kuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rong-Ho Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rong-Ho Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tseng, LC., Kuo, M. & Lee, RH. An imidazolium iodide–containing hyperbranched polymer ionic liquid that improves the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. J Polym Res 23, 157 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-1054-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-1054-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation