Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells prepared with a D 102 sensitizer and a polymer electrolyte

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been constructed by using quasi-solid polymer electrolytes containing polyethylene oxide (PEO). TiO₂ viscous pastes were prepared by grinding TiO₂ powder (P25) with terpineol, ethylcellulose and acetylacetone. Nanostructured mesoporous TiO₂ photoanodes were prepared by the screen-printing method on FTO substrates. TiO₂ porous electrodes were sensitized using a metal-free organic dye named D102. The quasi-solid-state electrolytes were grown by incorporating LiI-I₂ solutions into a polyethylene oxide (PEO) matrix supported by TiO₂ filler, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was added to enhance the conductivity of the slurry. The morphologies of dried electrolytes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The dependence of the conductivity of the system on the weight ratio of PEO to PVDF in the composite electrolyte was investigated. The polymer gel electrolytes were incorporated in dye sensitized solar cells and the measured energy conversion efficiencies were successfully correlated with their morphological and conducting properties.