Elucidating the mixing effect of dual polymers via physical blending on its physicochemical, thermal and electrical properties for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Blending two different polymers through a physical blending is a wise alternative to create a new polymer with desired properties showing a synergistic effect of the individual polymers. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly (1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) P(VP-co-VAc) were blended in a fixed amount of binary organic solvent of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate. The weight ratios were varied to 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 wt%, respectively. Polymer electrolytes in a gel and solid form are safer than liquid ones. Thus 50:50PP and 70:30PP samples were selected and incorporated with iodide/triiodide redox mediators such as sodium iodide salt, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) ionic liquid and iodine for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) application. Polymer electrolytes containing 50 wt.% of both PAN and P(VP-co-VAc) with iodide/triiodide redox mediator (50:50PP-IL) has achieved maximum ionic conductivity, short-circuit (JSC) current and power conversion efficiency (PCE, η) of 6.10 ×10−3 S cm−1, 11.1 mA cm−1 and 5.35%, respectively.