Dye-sensitized solar cells using binary iodide-PVA gel electrolyte

In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-salt gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) have been prepared with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Potassium iodide (KI) and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (TPAI) salts have been used to provide the conducting ions. The single salt system (containing KI only) with composition 15.20 wt. % PVA - 31.73 wt. % KI - 22.67 wt. % EC - 30.40 wt. % PC has the highest room temperature conductivity of 1.25 × 10^-2 S cm^-1. With addition of TPAI, conductivity of 9.79×10^-3 S·cm^-1 has been obtained for 15.21 wt. % PVA - 15.86 wt. % KI - 15.86 wt. % TPAI - 22.67 wt. % EC - 30.40 wt. % PC and is the highest conducting electrolyte in the binary salt system. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the electrolyte with only KI salt exhibits an efficiency of 2.64% whereas DSSC utilizing binary salt electrolyte system has efficiency of 3.12%.