Physically Stable Polymer‐Membrane Electrolytes for Highly Efficient Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with Long‐Term Stability

Abstract

A 3D polymer‐network‐membrane (3D‐PNM) electrolyte is described for highly stable, solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with excellent power‐conversion efficiency (PCE). The 3D‐PNM electrolyte is prepared by using one‐pot in situ cross‐linking polymerization on the surface of dye‐sensitized TiO2 particles in the presence of redox species. This method allows the direct connection of the 3D‐PNM to the surface of the TiO2 particles as well as the in situ preparation of the electrolyte gel during device assembly. There are two junction areas (liquid and solid‐state junctions) in the DSCs that employ conventional polymer electrolytes, and the major interface is at the liquid‐state junction. The solid‐state junction is dominant in the DSCs that employ the 3D‐PNM electrolyte, which exhibit almost constant performance during aging at 65 °C for over 700 h (17.0 to 17.2 mA cm–2). The best cell performance gives a PCE of 9.1%; this is slightly better than the performance of a DSC that employs a liquid electrolyte.