Heteropolyacid-impregnated PVDF as a solid polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Heteropolyacid (HPA)-impregnated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with iodine/iodide was prepared as a new polymer electrolyte for bio-mimicking natural photosynthesis. With this new polymer electrolyte, dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated using N3 dye-adsorbed over TiO2 nanoparticles (photoanode) and conducting carbon cement coated on conducting glass (photocathode). The fabricated cell generates high open circuit voltage (VOC 426 mV) and short circuit current (ISC 3.90 mA) upon illumination with visible light. It is also demonstrated that the polymer electrolytes prevent the back-electron transfer reactions taking place in dye-sensitized heterojunctions and are highly promising for solar energy conversion to electricity.