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Latent gel electrolyte precursors for quasi-solid dye sensitized solar cells

2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 179; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jphotochem.2005.07.010

1873-2666

Takehito Kato, Akio Okazaki, S. Hayase,

Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Abstract New latent gel electrolyte precursors (Precursor 1) consisting of ionic liquids and latent gelators are reported. The gelators are composed of poly(vinylpyridine) (PVP) and di-carboxylic acids. Gelation is caused by the reaction between PVP and di-carboxylic acid. Precursor 1 is liquid and is injected into cells and porous TiO 2 electrodes. Because of the latent properties, the viscosity of Precursor 1 does not increase at room temperature. After the Precursor 1 is injected into cells and into porous TiO 2 layers, the cell is heated at 90 °C. Solidification occurs swiftly. The latent mechanism is discussed. The trend of photo-voltaic performance for the cell filled with Precursor 1 before and after gelation was compared with that for the cell filled with previously reported latent gel electrolyte Precursor 2 composed of nano-particles and di-carobxylic acids. Photo-voltaic performance for the former decreased after quasi-solidification, but the latter did not. This is explained by insufficient phase-separations of gelator backbone from ionic liquid electrolytes after solidification.