High performance quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on acetamide-modified polymer electrolytes

Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are fabricated using acetamide-modified PEO/P(VDF-HFP) composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) along with KI and I2. The DSSC assembled with acetamide-modified CPE shows higher open-circuit voltage and higher short-circuit photocurrent density than those of DSSC with unmodified CPE. With moderate acetamide content (0.20 g) modification, the DSSC exhibits a 14.3 mV improvement of photovoltage, a 2.83 mA cm−2 improvement of current density and a improved performance of 6.04% compared with 4.68% of the original DSSC. Variations in the Voc and Jsc are explained in terms of shift of the flat band potential of TiO2 and a complex formation between I3- and –NH2 of acetamide in the electrolyte.

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► Acetamide deprotonates the TiO2 photoanode surface leading to the increased Voc.
► The short-circuit photocurrent was enhanced effectively after acetamide is added.
► The efficiency of DSSC with this acetamide-modified electrolyte was up to 6.04%.