Electrical, optical and photoelectrochemical studies on a solid PEO-polymer electrolyte doped with low viscosity ionic liquid

Solid polymer electrolyte (PEO:KI:I2) membranes doped with low viscosity (34 cP at 25 °C) ionic liquid EMImTFSI (1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) showing plasticizing effect as well as improved dye sensitized solar cell efficiency have been reported first time. Apart from ionic conductivity enhancement due to large number of free charge carriers provided by ionic liquid (IL) it assist in reducing cystallinity of polymer electrolyte matrix which was confirmed by polarized optical microscopy (POM). Cyclic voltammetry was carried out to study the reactions of iodide, iodine and IL in polymer electrolyte matrix.