Succinonitrile (SCN), a solid ion conductor (10 −4 to 10 −3 S/cm) in solid form at room temperature, is mixed with either 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐propylimidazoliuum iodide or 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide ionic liquids for forming a solid plastic phase electrolyte for use in dye‐sensitised solar cell (DSSC). Cells containing these two electrolytes showed best energy conversion efficiencies of 6.3% and 5.6%, respectively. The commonly used DSSC electrolyte additives inhibit the formation of the SCN plastic phase. However, for the first time, an SCN‐additive (additive = guanidinium thiocyanate) electrolyte composition is reported here, which remains as a solid at room temperatures. By using these new solid electrolytes, a simple and rapid single‐step filling procedure for making solid‐state DSSC is outlined. This process, which reduces the required manufacturing steps from four to one, is most suitable for continuous, high‐throughput, commercial DSSC manufacturing lines. These new electrolytes have been tested under low incident light levels (200 lx) to investigate their suitability for indoor DSSC applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. A plastic crystal, succinonitrile, is mixed with imidazolium salts (1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐propylimidazoliuum iodide and 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium iodide) to make solid‐state dye‐sensitised solar cell electrolytes achieving energy conversion efficiencies of 6.3% and 5.6% at 1000 Wm −2 . Common electrolyte additives (4‐tert‐butylpyridine, N‐methyl benzimidazole, lithium iodide and guanidinium thiocyanate) inhibit the succinonitrile plastic phase with only guanidinium thiocyanate forming a room temperature solid. A simple, rapid, single‐step electrolyte filling and sealing procedure suitable for continuous, high‐throughput, commercial dye‐sensitised solar cell manufacturing lines is outlined. Electrolytes are also tested under low light levels (200 lx) for indoor applications.


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    Title :

    Succinonitrile‐based solid‐state electrolytes for dye‐sensitised solar cells



    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2015




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    53.36 Energiedirektumwandler, elektrische Energiespeicher




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