- Eutectic ionic liquids as potential electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells: Physicochemical and conductivity studies
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Ionic liquids (ILs) have been introduced as the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) to replace organic solvents due to their non-flammability, chemical, and thermal stability, as well as less prone to evaporation and leakage. A series of eutectic ILs mixtures composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide, [C2C1im]I, 1-ethylpyridinium iodide [C2py]I, 1-propylpyridinium iodide, [C3py]I and 1-butylpyridinium iodide, [C4py]I was developed. The structures and purity of the compounds were validated by nuclear magnetic resonance and Karl Fischer Titration. Their physicochemical properties, such as viscosities and ionic conductivities were evaluated for their potential use as electrolytes in DSSCs. The melting temperature of pure ionic liquids and the mixtures were determined using differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range of 123.15 K to 393.15 K. It is found that eutectic mixtures were formed at the molar ratios of {0.75[C2py]I:0.25[C2C1im], {0.25[C2py]I:0.75[C2C1im]I}, {0.50[C2py]I:0.50[C2C1im]I}, {0.25[C2C1im]I:0.75 [C4py]I}, {0.75[C2C1im]I:0.25[C4py]I}, and {0.50[C2C1im]I:0.50[C4py]I} with the latter forming a highly stable liquid with no apparent melting peak in the studied temperature range. To understand the formation of eutectic composition, a correlation between molecular structures and the interaction energies of the cations and anions of ILs was performed using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). Dynamic viscosities of the binary mixtures were evaluated in the temperature range of 283.15 K to 353.15 K with 10 K increment. The highest ionic conductivity was exhibited by the eutectic ILs electrolyte {0.50[C2C1im]I:0.50[C4py]I:I2(50 wt%)} at 9.67 mS·cm?1 showing its potential for electrolyte application in DSSC.
- Kurnia, Kiki Adi,Mohd Faridz Hilmy, Nurfathiah Izzaty,Yahya, Wan Zaireen Nisa
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- Effect of ionic liquids with different cations in I-/I 3-redox electrolyte on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells
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The effect of the addition of ionic liquids with four different cations (imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, piperidinium and pyridinium) on the performance of dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells based on electrolytes containing a tbutylpyridine (TBP) in 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN) was studied. A total of 18 ionic liquids with mono-, diand tri-alkyl derivatives were used in the present study, and among them a pyridinium cation with a mono-alkyl group showed better cell efficiency than the others. The best photoelectric conversion efficiency, 7.213%, was obtained using 1-hexylpyridinium iodide with an open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) = 0.731 V, a short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) = 16.175 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (ff) = 0.610 under AM1.5 and 100 mW/cm2 illumination.
- Cho, Tae-Yeon,Yoon, Soon-Gil,Sekhon,Han, Chi-Hwan
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experimental part
p. 2058 - 2062
(2012/02/01)
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