The photovoltaic market is currently dominated by silicon technology, but emerging devices such as Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are drawing increasing attention, due to their easy fabrication, low cost and high conversion efficiency. However, one of the major problems limiting the long-term stability of these devices and their subsequent large-scale industrial production is the volatilization of the liquid electrolytes traditionally employed. Furthermore, a liquid also presents technological drawbacks with respect to its effective encapsulation in an electronic device. In order to solve this problem and improve the technological perspectives of DSSCs, many studies have been focused on the preparation of quasi-solid electrolytes, in which a polymer network is exploited to effectively retain the redox mediator. In this framework, the photoinduced polymerization has attracted large attention, demonstrating to be the most effective preparation method for these polymer electrolytes. In fact, among other advantages, it is a rapid, economic, functional and environmentally friendly process, besides being easily transferable to an industrial scale. In this chapter, the fabrication and characterization of free-standing UV-cured polymer electrolyte membranes and their integration in quasi-solid DSSCs is reported. In particular, the first part of the chapter describes the dye-sensitized solar cell working principles and the photopolymerization process. In the second part, devoted to the new electrolytes, the discussion concerns the selection of peculiar monomers useful to obtain a specific 3D network, the development of smart fillers used to selectively improve the photovoltaic parameters, and the physico-chemical correlation between charge transport properties and polymer backbone architectures.

Photocured polymer electrolyte membranes for dye-sensitized solar cells / Sacco, Adriano; Bella, Federico; Bianco, Stefano; Bongiovanni, Roberta Maria - In: Photovoltaics: Synthesis, Applications and Emerging Technologies / Gill M. A.. - STAMPA. - Hauppauge, New York : NOVA Science Publishers, Inc, 2014. - ISBN 9781631178436. - pp. 53-72

Photocured polymer electrolyte membranes for dye-sensitized solar cells

SACCO, ADRIANO;BELLA, FEDERICO;BIANCO, STEFANO;BONGIOVANNI, Roberta Maria
2014

Abstract

The photovoltaic market is currently dominated by silicon technology, but emerging devices such as Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) are drawing increasing attention, due to their easy fabrication, low cost and high conversion efficiency. However, one of the major problems limiting the long-term stability of these devices and their subsequent large-scale industrial production is the volatilization of the liquid electrolytes traditionally employed. Furthermore, a liquid also presents technological drawbacks with respect to its effective encapsulation in an electronic device. In order to solve this problem and improve the technological perspectives of DSSCs, many studies have been focused on the preparation of quasi-solid electrolytes, in which a polymer network is exploited to effectively retain the redox mediator. In this framework, the photoinduced polymerization has attracted large attention, demonstrating to be the most effective preparation method for these polymer electrolytes. In fact, among other advantages, it is a rapid, economic, functional and environmentally friendly process, besides being easily transferable to an industrial scale. In this chapter, the fabrication and characterization of free-standing UV-cured polymer electrolyte membranes and their integration in quasi-solid DSSCs is reported. In particular, the first part of the chapter describes the dye-sensitized solar cell working principles and the photopolymerization process. In the second part, devoted to the new electrolytes, the discussion concerns the selection of peculiar monomers useful to obtain a specific 3D network, the development of smart fillers used to selectively improve the photovoltaic parameters, and the physico-chemical correlation between charge transport properties and polymer backbone architectures.
2014
9781631178436
Photovoltaics: Synthesis, Applications and Emerging Technologies
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2551140
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