Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Nanocomposite Gel Polymer Electrolytes Based on Poly(propylene carbonate)

Abstract

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is synthesized from the copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide. Novel nanocomposite gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are prepared by utilizing PPC, organic solvents containing a redox couple, and aluminum oxide nanoparticles for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The quasi-solid-state DSSC assembled with optimized nanocomposite GPEs exhibits a relatively high conversion efficiency of 6.16% at 100 mW cm-2 and better stability than DSSC with liquid electrolyte.