Double-layered printable electrolytes for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

I. Ping Liu, Yun Yu Chen, Yu Syuan Cho, Li Wei Wang, Chung Yu Chien, Yuh Lang Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, novel double-layered electrolyte architecture is first demonstrated for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The experimental results show that the electrolyte prepared using 9 wt% polymer blends has rheological characteristics suitable for the printing process, and the corresponding DSSC with a double-layered electrolyte architecture reveals an efficiency (7.99%) comparable to that of a common liquid-state cell under 1 sun irradiation. Moreover, when zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are introduced as the additives in electrolytes, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) increases, whereas the short-circuit current density (Jsc) decreases. This phenomenon is attributed to the ZnO effects on the two electrodes, i.e., upward shift of the TiO2 conduction band at the photoelectrode and suppression of interfacial charge transfer at the counter electrode. A solution which takes advantage of the double-layered architecture is proposed herein to overcome the above dilemma. Electrolytes with and without the ZnO additives are printed onto the photoelectrode and counter electrode, respectively. The DSSC prepared by this solution maintains the high Voc, and furthermore, the Jsc increases, thus achieving an improved efficiency of 8.50%. A similar quasi-solid-state DSSC also outperforms its liquid-state counterpart under indoor fluorescent-light conditions, demonstrating impressive efficiencies beyond 15%.

Original languageEnglish
Article number228962
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume482
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jan 15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Double-layered printable electrolytes for highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this