A novel thixotropic and ionic liquid-based gel electrolyte for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel thixotropic composite electrolyte was fabricated by using the amine group-functionalized silica nanoparticles as the gelator of an ionic liquid-based electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The SEM image of electrode deposited with electrolyte confirms that the high viscous gel electrolyte has a good contact with TiO2 electrode ascribed to the thixotropic property of the electrolyte. Based on the thixotropic and ionic liquid based-electrolyte containing the amine group-functionalized silica particles, the cells show better performance owing to the increased open-circuit voltage than that of the liquid device, yield a high energy conversion efficiency of 6.69% under AM 1.5 illumination at 100 mV cm−2 when the content of the amine group-functionalized silica is 15 wt.% and exhibit a long-term stability without sealing.

► A novel thixotropic composite electrolyte was prepared by using MA-NH2 for DSSC.
► The value of Voc was increased steadily after adding the modified particles.
► Jsc first reached a maximum value, and then was almost identical to the reference.
► The efficiency of DSSC with this thixotropic gel electrolyte was up to 6.69%.