A feasible option for photovoltaic technology is represented by dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): they have low cost, easy fabrication and good performance. The relevant technological drawbacks, i.e. scarce long-term stability, electrolyte evaporation, and permeability to H2O/O2 are mainly due to the presence of a liquid electrolyte. Therefore it was proposed to replace it with (quasi)-solid polymer electrolytes prepared by free-radical photopolymerization. Once the membrane was cured, it was swelled with the I−/I3− electrolyte solution and then assembled with the electrodes (a TiO2 photoanode sensitized with a dye and a transparent photocathode). An accurate characterization of a set of UV-cured membranes highlighted the influence of the chemical structure of the networks and their crosslinking density on the photo-electrochemical performances of the cells. Pursuing this work, in situ photopolymerisation was attempted: the in-situ process is efficient, suitable for scaling-up, can enable the creation of an excellent electrode/electrolyte interface and the sealing of the device. To overcome two major problems, namely the inhibition of radical photocuring by the I−/I3− redox couple and the damaging of the dye under UV-light, a selenocianated-based electrolyte was synthesized on purpose and visible light was used for curing through the photocatode. The DSSC prototype fabricated in this way showed promising photoharvesting properties.
In situ photopolymerization for making DSSC quasi solid electrolytes and assembling the cell / Bongiovanni, Roberta Maria; Bella, Federico. - STAMPA. - (2014), pp. IL-19-IL-19. (Intervento presentato al convegno 3rd European Symposium of Photopolymer Science (ESPS 2014) tenutosi a Vienna (Austria) nel September 9-12, 2014).
In situ photopolymerization for making DSSC quasi solid electrolytes and assembling the cell
BONGIOVANNI, Roberta Maria;BELLA, FEDERICO
2014
Abstract
A feasible option for photovoltaic technology is represented by dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs): they have low cost, easy fabrication and good performance. The relevant technological drawbacks, i.e. scarce long-term stability, electrolyte evaporation, and permeability to H2O/O2 are mainly due to the presence of a liquid electrolyte. Therefore it was proposed to replace it with (quasi)-solid polymer electrolytes prepared by free-radical photopolymerization. Once the membrane was cured, it was swelled with the I−/I3− electrolyte solution and then assembled with the electrodes (a TiO2 photoanode sensitized with a dye and a transparent photocathode). An accurate characterization of a set of UV-cured membranes highlighted the influence of the chemical structure of the networks and their crosslinking density on the photo-electrochemical performances of the cells. Pursuing this work, in situ photopolymerisation was attempted: the in-situ process is efficient, suitable for scaling-up, can enable the creation of an excellent electrode/electrolyte interface and the sealing of the device. To overcome two major problems, namely the inhibition of radical photocuring by the I−/I3− redox couple and the damaging of the dye under UV-light, a selenocianated-based electrolyte was synthesized on purpose and visible light was used for curing through the photocatode. The DSSC prototype fabricated in this way showed promising photoharvesting properties.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2572549
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