Graphene tailored polymer gel electrolytes for 9.1%-efficiency quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2017-04, Vol.348, p.239-245
• Main Author: Zheng, Jingjing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dye-sensitized solar cells; Graphene; Polymer gel electrolyte; Power generation
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.03.018

Pursuit of technological implementation with enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency and power generation ability in the dark is a persistent objective for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We launch here three strategies of designing graphene tailored polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) with an electron-conducting feature, aiming at reserving I−/I3− redox couples into three-dimensional (3D) PGE framework, reducing I3− species within the PGE and shortening the diffusion length of redox couples. The 3D PGE provides framework for I−/I3− diffusion like in a liquid system, whereas graphene experiences to form interconnected channels along polyelectrolyte backbones. The results demonstrate that a power conversion efficiency of 9.1% is yielded on the resultant quasi-solid-state DSSCs by optimizing synthesis strategies. [Display omitted] •Graphene tailored PGEs are synthesized by different strategies.•The conducting PGEs are fabricated into quasi-solid-state DSSCs.•The PGEs can catalyze redox couples and shorten charge-transfer pathways.•The final DSSC yields a maximized photoelectric conversion efficiency of 9.1%.•The solar cell performance is in a very high level for quasi-solid-state DSSCs.