Kappa-carrageenan based quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cell containing bulky organic iodide/I2 electrolyte system

• Main Author: Bantang, Jose Paolo O.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/4730
• Institution: De La Salle University

Abundant solar energy is a potential alternative source of clean energy. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are particularly attractive due to its relatively high light-to-energy conversion efficiencies and ease of fabrication. Stability problems however arise from conventional DSSC due to the use of organic solvents in the electrolyte which leak and volatilize out of the cell thus, an alternative electrolyte system is highly sought. In this study, -carrageenan was utilized as a matrix in developing polymer electrolyte for DSSC application in the presence of inorganic and bulky organic iodide salts. Optimization and characterizization of resulting films were done using FTIR, DSC, four-point probe method, and ac impedance. DSSCs were fabricated incorporating the optimized electrolyte system. Results showed that bulky iodide salts increase dissociation of iodide ions leading to good conductivity. -Carrageenan/water/acetonitrile electrolyte system resulted to gel-state polymer electrolyte system with DSSC characterization yielded an efficiency of < 0.1 %. Using non-aqueous solvents, -Carrageenan/DMSO and -carrageenan/glycerol system resulted to liquid-state polymer electrolyte systems and showed promising features for DSSC applications with efficiencies reaching ~1% efficiencies. Further studies are recommended to improve the efficiency of the DSSC.