Solvent-free ZnO dye-sensitised solar cells

Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) based on commercial nanostructured zinc oxide combined with imidazolium-based room temperature ionic-liquid electrolytes are characterized. The electrolytes are based on a binary mixture of two ionic liquids, one of them used as source of iodide ions. The composition of this solvent-free electrolyte is optimized with respect to the concentration of iodine and iodide and the effect of additives such as lithium and tert-butylpyridine (TBP) on the photovoltaic performance and the recombination rate is analyzed and discussed. A maximum photoconversion efficiency of 3.4% at 1 sun illumination has been obtained for cells of 0.64 cm2 active area with the best performing compositions. Diffusion limitations due to slow transport processes are analyzed and discussed.