Gelling polysaccharide as the electrolyte matrix in a dye-sensitized solar cell

• Main Authors: Bantang, Jose Paolo O., Camacho, Drexel
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/995; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1994&context=faculty_research
• Institution: De La Salle University

Hydrophilic polysaccharide, κ-carrageenan, was utilized as the polymer matrix in gel-electrolyte systems for dye-sensitized solar-cell (DSSC) applications. The influence of the solvent system was investigated to optimize the solubility of κ-carrageenan and tetrabutylammonium-iodide (TBAI)/I2 electrolytes by minimizing the water content because of its unfavorable effect on DSSCs. We report herein that two solvent systems, a water/acetonitrile mixed solvent and DMSO, were found to effectively dissolve the components. The composite natures of the κ-carrageenan-electrolyte systems in these solvents were confirmed with an FTIR analysis. The presence of κ-carrageenan did not impede the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes, as confirmed with cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetry. The incorporation of the gel electrolytes in DSSCs showed that the DMSO system exhibited better solar-cell efficiency compared to the mixed-solvent system.