Optimization of performance characteristics of 2-mercaptopyridine-doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol. 406; pp. 133 - 138
• Main Authors: Senthil, R.A., Theerthagiri, J., Madhavan, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 15.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2-Mercaptopyridine; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Diffusion in solids; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Dyes; Electrochemistry; Electrolytes; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Growth from solutions; Infrared spectroscopy; Ionic conductivity; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Polymeric films; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Properties of electrolytes: conductivity; PVDF; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solid polymer electrolytes; Theory of diffusion and ionic conduction in solids; Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic); Dye-sensitized solar cell; 2-Mercaptopyridine; PVDF; Solid polymer electrolytes; Differential scanning calorimetry; Polymer electrolytes; Scanning capacitance microscopy; Ionic conductivity; Doping; Solid electrolyte; Polymer films; X ray diffraction; Optimization; Casting; Vinylidene fluoride polymer; Crystal growth from solutions; Illumination; Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry
• ISSN: 0022-3093; 1873-4812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2014.08.036

The influence of 2-mercaptopyridine on the ionic conductivity of polyvinylidene fluoride/KI/I2 polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells was studied. Different weight ratios (0%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) of 2-mercaptopyridine-doped polyvinylidene fluoride/KI/I2 polymer electrolyte films were prepared by solution casting method. The as-prepared polymer electrolyte films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, electrochemical impedance analysis and X-ray diffraction. Ionic conductivity studies revealed that 30% 2-mercaptopyridine-doped polyvinylidene fluoride/KI/I2 polymer electrolyte showed the highest ionic conductivity of 4.58×10−5 Scm−1. The conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using this electrolyte was 2.65%, which was higher than that of undoped polyvinylidene fluoride/KI/I2 polymer electrolyte (1.18%) under an illumination of 60mW/cm2. Hence, the 2-mercaptopyridine-doped polymer electrolyte can be a suitable material for device applications. •The ionic conductivity of PVDF/KI/I2 electrolyte was enhanced by the addition of 2-mercaptopyridine.•A 30% 2-mercaptopyridine-doped PVDF/KI/I2 electrolyte showed higher ionic conductivity.•The solid-state DSSC using 2-mercaptopyridine-doped polymer electrolytes showed a power conversion efficiency of 2.65%.