Gel electrolyte based on UV-cured polyurethane for dye-sensitized solar cells

A gel electrolyte based on polyurethane as a polymer matrix was prepared by the UV curing of a liquid electrolyte containing an aliphatic urethane acrylate. By controlling the concentration of the polymer matrix, the ionic conductivities of the gel electrolytes were varied from 9.8 × 10−3 S/cm to 4.7 × 10−3 S/cm at room temperature. The quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated with the gel electrolyte rendered an overall energy conversion efficiency of 6.1% under irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 at room temperature. The DSSC employing the gel electrolyte showed better photovoltaic performance than the DSSC assembled without the polyurethane at temperatures above 55 °C.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Polyurethane based gel electrolyte for a dye sensitized solar cell. ► Gel electrolyte for the improvement of high temperature stability. ► The DSSC employing the gel electrolyte showed better PV performance than that employing liquid electrolyte above 55 °C.