High-efficiency platinum-free quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells from polyaniline (polypyrrole)-carbon nanotube complex tailored conducting gel electrolytes and counter electrodes

Abstract

Polymer gel electrolytes having super catalytic behaviors and robust Pt-free counter electrodes (CEs) are promising for high-efficiency and cost-effective quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We present here the molecular design of polyaniline (polypyrrole)-graphene complex for conducting gel electrolytes and CEs, aiming at reducing their charge-transfer resistance and enhancing catalytic activity. The quasi-solid-stated DSSCs tailored with polyaniline-carbon nanotube and polypyrrole-carbon nanotube complexes yield maximized power conversion efficiencies of 8.23% and 7.69%, respectively. Arising from good encapsulation of three-dimension gel matrix, the photovoltaics are featured with relatively good long-term stability over 15 days. The high-efficiency and reasonable durability make so-called conducting gel electrolytes and Pt-free CEs promising in enhancing comprehensive properties of quasi-solid-state DSSC platforms.