Functional transparent quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells made with different oligomer organic/inorganic hybrid electrolytes

Abstract

Five different hybrid organic–inorganic materials were synthesized using either O,O′-Bis(2-aminopropyl) polypropylene glycol of various molecular weights (230, 400, and 2000), O,O′-Bis(2-aminopropyl) polyethylene glycol (900) or O,O′-Bis(2-aminopropyl) polypropylene glycol-block-polyethylene glycol-block-polypropylene glycol (600) and 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane to employ them as gelato agents and ionic conductors for quasi-solid state electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Initially the electrolytes were liquid enabling the electrolyte molecules to penetrate the semiconductor׳s nanoparticles and as the acetic acid solvolysis evolved, they jellified, bonding the two electrodes together. The different electrolytes were thermally characterized for their stability while their electrical conductivity was also measured. Functional quasi-solid state DSSCs were accomplished with transparent TiO2 films which were deposited on conductive glasses using a spin coating method. The structural properties of the photoanodes were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and porosimetry analysis. The experimental results indicated that the thickness of the fabricated transparent films was between 3.5 and 4.2μm. The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) made with transparent TiO2 films were electrically studied to determine if there are any variations to their performance employing the different quasi-solid state electrolytes. The results indicated comparable results for all the cells and an overall performance of 3.3–3.9% to the conversion of the solar light to electrical energy depending on the hybrid material in the quasi-solid electrolyte.