Water-based electrolyte gel for dye-sensitized solar cells and manufacturing methods

• Main Authors: CASUSCELLI VALERIA, SCALDAFERRI ROSSANA, CIMMINO ANGELA, CARFAGNA COSIMO, DI PALMA VINCENZA, DE MARIA ANTONELLA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.08.2006
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES ORLIGHT-SENSITIVE DEVICES, OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided having an organic compound to absorb solar radiation and donate electrons, a semiconductor to transport electrons, and a hole transporting material formed of a water-based electrolyte gel that includes a polymeric compound and a electrolyte solution. Preparation of the water based gel includes gelling a hydrophilic polymer that is present at least in a concentration, depending on molecular weight and/or degree of hydrolyses and/or degree of polymerization, sufficient to form the gel from the aqueous solution.