Electrospun nanocomposite polymer fibrous membrane electrolyte for DSSC application

Abstract

Pure polymer [P(VDF-HFP)] fibrous membrane (PFM) and nanocomposite polymer [P(VDF-HFP)/TiO2 nanoparticles fillers (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt. %)] fibrous membranes (NCPFMs) were prepared using electrospinning technique. DSC, XRD and SEM techniques are used to find out the thermal behaviour, phase and morphology of pure and nanocomposite fibrous polymer membranes respectively. All the prepared fibrous membranes were activated by soaking each sample separately in an optimized NaI redox couple solution to obtain PFM and NCPFMs electrolytes. Electrolyte uptake behaviour of all the prepared polymer samples was calculated using the obtained electrolyte uptake data. Ionic conductivities of all the prepared PFM and NCPFMs electrolyte samples were calculated using the sample dimensions and the resistance obtained from the analysis of the measured impedance data using win fit software. The PVDF-HFP with 6 wt.% TiO2 nanoparticles fillers of NaI based electrolyte showed higher electrolyte uptake and also high conductivity of 8.24 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature.Pure polymer [P(VDF-HFP)] fibrous membrane (PFM) and nanocomposite polymer [P(VDF-HFP)/TiO2 nanoparticles fillers (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt. %)] fibrous membranes (NCPFMs) were prepared using electrospinning technique. DSC, XRD and SEM techniques are used to find out the thermal behaviour, phase and morphology of pure and nanocomposite fibrous polymer membranes respectively. All the prepared fibrous membranes were activated by soaking each sample separately in an optimized NaI redox couple solution to obtain PFM and NCPFMs electrolytes. Electrolyte uptake behaviour of all the prepared polymer samples was calculated using the obtained electrolyte uptake data. Ionic conductivities of all the prepared PFM and NCPFMs electrolyte samples were calculated using the sample dimensions and the resistance obtained from the analysis of the measured impedance data using win fit software. The PVDF-HFP with 6 wt.% TiO2 nanoparticles fillers of NaI based electrolyte showed higher electrolyte uptake and also high conductivity of...