Novel Si-tripodand functionalized ionic liquids as iodide sources for dye-sensitized solar cells

Novel ionic liquids with iodide anions and functionalized with silicon tripodand centers have been synthesized and tested as iodide sources for dye sensitized solar cells, 1-methyl-3-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)imidazolium iodide 3a, 1-methyl-3-(3-(tris(2-methoxyethoxy)silyl)propyl)imidazolium iodide 3b, and 1-methyl-3-(3-(tris(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)silyl)propyl)imidazolium iodide 3c. The compounds have been proved to be thermally and electrochemically stable, as evidenced by thermogravimetry and linear sweep voltammetry on platinum. Specific conductivities at 25 °C of pure ionic liquids are of the order of 10−4 S cm−1 and show little dependence on the length of oxaethylene chains. Conductivities rise to nearly 10−2 S cm−1 for the electrolytes prepared on their bases as a result of viscosity decrease. Model dye-sensitized solar cells show appreciable conversion efficiencies, reaching a maximum value of 5.08% for the electrolyte with 3b as iodide source. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed high resistance associated with electron recombination on the interface of TiO2/dye/electrolyte and important contribution of electrolyte diffusion.