A dual function of high performance counter-electrode for stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A dual function polymer hybrid material poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)–poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) was fabricated both as a counter electrode (CE) for I3− reduction and for storage of the liquid electrolyte in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QS-DSSCs). To enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the nano-PEDOT CE and to improve the ionic conductivity of the three-dimensional (3D) PAA–PSS network, the columnar PEDOT was electropolymerized through the 3D PAA–PSS network. The QS-DSSC showed a high photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 6.35% under full sunlight illumination (100 mW cm−2, AM1.5 G), which reduced to 6.03% after 100 days, indicating this QS-DSSC had a relatively good long-term stability.