Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with water-based electrolytes are considered as one of the possible breakthrough towards DSSCs large-scale diffusion. If opportunely developed and optimized, aqueous solar cells can be considered a truly low impact photovoltaic device and no toxic components. Moreover, the possibility of gelling the electrolyte into a polymeric matrix can reduce the leakage outside the device, thus increasing the long-term stability. Above all, bio-derived polymers appear promising being renewable and easy available with low cost. In this contribution, the investigation on novel bio-derived hydrogel electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells is discussed and thoroughly investigated by means of physico-chemical and electrochemical characterisation. Different aqueous electrolytes gelled with carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) or xanthan gum have been prepared with both I-/I3- and Co2+/3+ redox mediators. These gelled systems show good photovoltaic performances, maintaining over 90% efficiency of liquid DSSCs, as well as enhanced long-term stability. These evidences confirm that gelation with low-cost bio-derived polymers is a good strategy to improve the stability of liquid electrolytes, without compromising the overall efficiency. In addition, the use of design of experiments (DoE) is demonstrated to be a useful chemometric technique for the concurrent investigation of a series of experimental factors that directly influence the photovoltaic performances of solar cells. Results obtained enlighten that a solid mathematical-statistical approach is fundamental to support the researchers and effectively drive the experiments towards the achievements of optimal operating conditions for aqueous solar cells.
Biosourced Hydrogel Electrolytes for Aqueous Solar Cells / Bella, F.; Galliano, S.; Falco, M.; Fagiolari, L.; Viscardi, G.; Grätzel, M.; Gerbaldi, C.; Barolo, C.. - ELETTRONICO. - (2019), pp. APP-P029-APP-P029. (Intervento presentato al convegno European Polymer Congress 2019 (EPF 2019) tenutosi a Crete (Greece) nel 9-14 June, 2019).
Biosourced Hydrogel Electrolytes for Aqueous Solar Cells
F. Bella;M. Falco;L. Fagiolari;C. Gerbaldi;
2019
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with water-based electrolytes are considered as one of the possible breakthrough towards DSSCs large-scale diffusion. If opportunely developed and optimized, aqueous solar cells can be considered a truly low impact photovoltaic device and no toxic components. Moreover, the possibility of gelling the electrolyte into a polymeric matrix can reduce the leakage outside the device, thus increasing the long-term stability. Above all, bio-derived polymers appear promising being renewable and easy available with low cost. In this contribution, the investigation on novel bio-derived hydrogel electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells is discussed and thoroughly investigated by means of physico-chemical and electrochemical characterisation. Different aqueous electrolytes gelled with carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) or xanthan gum have been prepared with both I-/I3- and Co2+/3+ redox mediators. These gelled systems show good photovoltaic performances, maintaining over 90% efficiency of liquid DSSCs, as well as enhanced long-term stability. These evidences confirm that gelation with low-cost bio-derived polymers is a good strategy to improve the stability of liquid electrolytes, without compromising the overall efficiency. In addition, the use of design of experiments (DoE) is demonstrated to be a useful chemometric technique for the concurrent investigation of a series of experimental factors that directly influence the photovoltaic performances of solar cells. Results obtained enlighten that a solid mathematical-statistical approach is fundamental to support the researchers and effectively drive the experiments towards the achievements of optimal operating conditions for aqueous solar cells.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2754949
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