| 1. |
- Arof, A. K., et al.
(author)
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Polyacrylonitrile gel polymer electrolyte based dye sensitized solar cells for a prototype solar panel
- 2017
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In: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-4686. ; 251, s. 223-234
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) were prepared using lithium iodide (LiI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII) and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (TPAI). The LiI mass fraction in the electrolyte was varied while keeping the masses of other components constant in order to enhance the solar cell performance. The addition of 4.61 wt.% LiI in the GPE increased the electrolyte room temperature ionic conductivity from (2.32 ± 0.02) to (3.91 ± 0.04) mS cm−1. The increase in conductivity with the addition of LiI salts was attributed to the increase in diffusion coefficient, mobility and number density of charge carriers as determined from Nyquist plot fitting. The incorporation of LiI salts in PAN-based GPE has enhanced the efficiency of the DSSC as expected. The best cell performance was obtained with an electrolyte containing 4.61 wt.% LiI sandwiched between a single mesoporous layer of TiO2 soaked in N3 dye sensitizer and a platinum counter electrode, which showed a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of (5.4 ± 0.1) % with a short circuit current density (Jsc) of (21.0 ± 1.1) mA cm−2, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of (0.48 ± 0.02) V and a fill factor (FF) of (53.4 ± 0.9) %. The DSSCs with 4.61 wt.% of LiI have been used to fabricate prototype solar panels for operating small devices. The panels were assembled using a number of cells, each having an area of 2 cm × 2 cm, connected in series and parallel. The panel, consisting of a set of eight cells in series which was connected in parallel with another set of eight cells in series, produces an average power conversion efficiency of (3.7 ± 0.2)% with a maximum output power of (17.1 ± 0.9) mW. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
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| 2. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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A polymer electrolyte containing ionic liquid for possible applications in photoelectrochemical solar cells
- 2010
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In: Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-8488 .- 1433-0768. ; 14:7, s. 1221-1226
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Various iodide ion conducting polymer electrolytes have been studied as candidate materials for fabricating photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells and energy storage devices. In this study, enhanced ionic conductivity values were obtained for the ionic liquid tetrahexylammonium iodide containing polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based plasticized electrolytes. The analysis of thermal properties revealed the existence of two phases in the electrolyte, and the conductivity measurements showed a marked conductivity enhancement during the melting of the plasticizer-rich phase of the electrolyte. Annealed electrolyte samples showed better conductivity than nonannealed samples, revealing the existence of hysteresis. The optimum conductivity was shown for the electrolytes with PEO:salt= 100:15 mass ratio, and this sample exhibited the minimum glass transition temperature of 72.2 °C. For this optimum PEO to salt ratio, the conductivity of nonannealed electrolyte was 4.4×10−4 S cm−1 and that of the annealed sample was 4.6×10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C. An all solid PEC solar cell was fabricated using this annealed electrolyte. The short circuit current density (ISC), the open circuit voltage (VOC), and the power conversion efficiency of the cell are 0.63 mA cm−2, 0.76 V, and 0.47% under the irradiation of 600 W m−2 light.
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| 3. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Binary counter ion effects and dielectric behavior of iodide ion conducting gel-polymer electrolytes for high-efficiency quasi-solid-state solar cells
- 2020
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In: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 22:22, s. 12532-12543
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A series of highly efficient quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) is prepared by harnessing the binary cation effect and positive effects of the selected performance enhancers of gel-polymer electrolytes. The new electrolyte is composed of polyacrylonitrile polymer, tetra-hexylammonium iodide (Hex(4)NI) and KI binary salts as well as 4-tertbutylpyridine and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide performance enhancers. The charge transport in the series of electrolytes is thermally activated and, accordingly, the temperature dependence of conductivity follows the VTF behavior. The enhancement of conductivity is observed with an increasing mass fraction of KI and decreasing mass fraction of Hex(4)NI, while the total mass fraction of salts in the electrolyte is kept unchanged. The highest conductivity of 3.74 mS cm(-1)at ambient temperature is shown by the sample containing KI only (without Hex(4)NI) at all the temperatures. The effects of dielectric polarization of the electrolytes are studied by analyzing the frequency dependence of the real and the imaginary parts of the AC conductivity in detail. Appropriate and reproducible cell construction are assured by efficiencies of above 5% exhibited by all the quasi-solid-state DSCs assembled using double-layered TiO(2)photo-electrodes and the new electrolyte series. Besides, highlighting the mixed cation effect, the cells with mixed salts exhibited efficiencies greater than 6%. An impressively high efficiency of 7.36% was shown by the DSC prepared with electrolyte containing 75 wt% KI and 25 wt% Hex(4)NI. This study reveals that the salt combination of KI and Hex(4)NI, which has not been reported before, is a suitable binary iodide salt mixture to prepare highly efficient DSCs. The replacement of tetra-hexylammonium ions by K(+)ions improves the charge transport in the electrolyte; however, the best solar cell performance is shown by the mixed salt system with 75 wt% KI and 25 wt% Hex(4)NI, which is not the highest conductivity composition. Therefore, the exhibited high efficiency of 7.36% is evidently due to the binary cation effect.
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| 4. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) nanofiber membrane based quasi solid electrolytes and their application in a dye sensitized solar cell
- 2018
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In: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-4686. ; 266, s. 276-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The electrolyte plays a major role in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work a quasi-solid state (gel) electrolyte has been formed by incorporating a liquid electrolyte made with KI dissolved in ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) co-solvent in poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) co-polymer nanofiber membrane prepared by electrospinning. SEM images of the electrolyte membrane showed the formation of a three-dimensional network of polymer nanofibers with diameters between 100 and 300 nm and an average membrane thickness of 14 mu m. The electrolyte was characterized by FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The DSSCs fabricated with this electrolyte were characterized by current-voltage and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. DSC thermograms revealed that the crystallinity of the PVdF-HFP nanofiber is 14% lower than that of the pure PVdF-HFP polymer while the FTIR spectra showed a reduced polymer-polymer interaction in the nano fiber based gel electrolyte. The DSSCs fabricated with nanofiber based gel electrolyte showed an energy conversion efficiency of 5.36% under 1.5 a. m. solar irradiation, whereas the efficiency of the DSSC made with the liquid electrolyte based cell was 6.01%. This shows the possibility of replacing the liquid electrolyte in DSSCs by electro-spun polymer nanofiber based gel electrolyte and thereby minimizing some major drawbacks associated with liquid electrolyte based solar cells while maintaining a reasonably high efficiency.
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| 5. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Combined effect of alkaline cations and organic additives for iodide ion conducting gel polymer electrolytes to enhance efficiency in dye sensitized solar cells
- 2017
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In: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-4686. ; 252, s. 208-214
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Iodide ion conducting electrolytes are intensively studied as effectual electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, the nature and concentration of the counter-ion (cation) in the electrolyte exert a profound influence on the performance of the thin film meso-porous TiO2 based DSSCs. A series of gel electrolytes containing the alkaline iodides LiI, NaI, KI, RbI and CsI and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were fabricated together with the non-volatile plasticizers ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC). A similar series was fabricated with the inclusions of performance enhancers (additives) tetrapropylammonium iodide (Pr4NI), the ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-propyl imidazolium iodide (MPII) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (4TBP). The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes was studied in order to investigate its dependence on the nature of the alkaline cation in presence or absence of additives. The conductivities were higher for the electrolytes with the larger cations, namely K+, Rb+ and Cs+. A significant conductivity enhancement was observed in presence of the additives, and this effect was especially noticeable for samples with the smaller cations. The highest conductivity for electrolytes with additives, 3.96 mS cm(-1) at 25 degrees C, is exhibited by KI containing samples. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Conductivity behaviour in novel quasi-solid-state electrolyte based on polyacrylonitrile and tetrahexylammonium iodide intended for dye sensitized solar cells
- 2013
-
In: Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. - : Sri Lanka Journals Online (JOL). - 1391-4588 .- 2362-0161. ; 41:3, s. 175-184
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The conduction of iodide ions in gel polymer electrolytes and the performance of dye sensitized solar cells containing such an electrolyte can be enhanced by incorporating a salt having a bulky cation. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and Hex(4)N(+)I(-) based gel electrolytes with ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate as plasticizers have been studied. The variation of conductivity and molar conductivity with salt concentration has been discussed in order to understand the mechanism of iodide ion conductivity in this system. Out of the various compositions studied, the electrolyte containing 120 % salt with respect to weight of PAN showed the highest conductivity, 2.0 X 10(-3) Scm(-1) at 25 degrees C and a glass transition at - 102.3 degrees C. The electrolytes exhibit predominantly ionic behaviour and because of the bulky cation a negligible cationic transport is shown. A quasi-solid-state dye sensitized solar cell was fabricated employing the optimized gel electrolyte. This cell showed an energy conversion efficiency of 3.1 % and a short circuit current density of 8.1 mAcm(-2) under irradiation of 1000 Wm(-2).
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| 7. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
-
Dependence of solar cell performance on the nature of alkaline counterion in gel polymer electrolytes containing binary iodides
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-8488 .- 1433-0768. ; 21:6, s. 1571-1578
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Performance of dye-sensitized nano-crystalline TiO2 thin film-based photo-electrochemical solar cells (PECSCs) containing gel polymer electrolytes is largely governed by the nature of the cation in the electrolyte. Dependence of the photovoltaic performance in these quasi-solid state PECSCs on the alkaline cation size has already been investigated for single cation iodide salt-based electrolytes. The present study reports the ionic conductivity dependence on the nature of alkaline cations (counterion) in a gel polymer electrolyte based on binary iodides. Polyacrylonitrile-based gel polymer electrolyte series containing binary iodide salts is prepared using one of the alkaline iodides (LiI, NaI, KI, RbI, and CsI) and tetrapropylammonium iodide (Pr4NI). All the electrolytes based on binary salts have shown conductivity enhancement compared to their single cation counterparts. When combined with Pr4NI, each of the Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ cation containing iodide salts incorporated in the gel electrolytes has shown a room temperature conductivity enhancement of 85.59, 12.03, 12.71, 20.77, and 15.36%, respectively. The conductivities of gel electrolytes containing binary iodide systems with Pr4NI and KI/RbI/CsI are higher and have shown values of 3.28, 3.43, and 3.23 mS cm(-1), respectively at room temperature. The influence of the nature of counterions on the performance of quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells is investigated by assembling two series of cells. All the binary cationic solar cells have shown more or less enhancements of open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, fill factor, and efficiency compared to their single cation counterparts. This work highlights the importance of employing binary cations (a large and a small) in electrolytes intended for quasi-solid state solar cells. The percentage of energy conversion efficiency enhancement shown for the PECSCs made with electrolytes containing Pr4NI along with Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ iodides is 260.27, 133.65, 65.27, 25.32, and 8.36%, respectively. The highest efficiency of 4.93% is shown by the solar cell containing KI and Pr4NI. However, the highest enhancements of ionic conductivity as well as the energy conversion efficiency were exhibited by the PECSC made with Li+-containing binary cationic electrolyte.
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| 8. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Diatom frustules enhancing the efficiency of gel polymer electrolyte based dye-sensitized solar cells with multilayer photoelectrodes
- 2020
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In: Nanoscale Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2516-0230. ; 2:1, s. 199-209
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The incorporation of nanostructures that improve light scattering and dye adsorption has been suggested for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), but the manufacture of photonic and nanostructured materials with the desired properties is not an easy task. In nature, however, the process of light-harvesting for photosynthesis has, in some cases, evolved structures with remarkable wavelength-sensitive light-trapping properties. The present work is focused on enhancing the efficiency of quasi solid-state DSSCs by capitalizing on the light trapping properties of diatom frustules since they provide complex 3-dimensional structures for scattering and trapping light. This study reports a promising approach to prepare TiO2 nanocrystal (14 nm) based photo-electrodes by utilizing the waveguiding and photon localization effects of nanostructured diatom frustules for enhancing light harvesting without deteriorating the electron conduction. Single and double-layered photo-electrodes were prepared with different frustule/nanocrystal combinations and conformations on transparent conductive oxide substrates. This study clearly reports impressive efficiency and short circuit current density enhancements of about 35% and 39%, respectively, due to the incorporation of diatom frustules extracted from a ubiquitous species. The SEM images obtained in this work reveal that the produced thin films had a remarkable surface coverage of evenly distributed frustules within the TiO2 nanoparticle layer. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the first quasi solid-state DSSC based on a photo-electrode with incorporated bio-formed nanostructures.
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| 9. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Dye-sensitized, nano-porous TiO2 solar cell with poly(acrylonitrile): MgI2 plasticized electrolyte
- 2010
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In: Journal of Power Sources. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7753. ; 195:11, s. 3730-3734
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dye-sensitized solar cells are promising candidates as supplementary power sources; the dominance in the photovoltaic field of inorganic solid-state junction devices is in fact now being challenged by the third generation of solar cells based on dye-sensitized, nano-porous photo-electrodes and polymer electrolytes. Polymer electrolytes are actually very favorable for photo-electrochemical solar cells and in this study poly(acrylonitrile)–MgI2 based complexes are used. As ambient temperature conductivity of poly(acrylonitrile)–salt complexes are in general low, a conductivity enhancement is attained by blending with the plasticizers ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate. At 20 °C the optimum ionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10−3 S cm−1 is obtained for the (PAN)10(MgI2)n(I2)n/10(EC)20(PC)20 electrolyte where n = 1.5. The predominantly ionic nature of the electrolyte is seen from the DC polarization data. Differential scanning calorimetric thermograms of electrolyte samples with different MgI2 concentrations were studied and glass transition temperatures were determined. Further, in this study, a dye-sensitized solar cell structure was fabricated with the configuration Glass/FTO/TiO2/Dye/Electrolyte/Pt/FTO/Glass and an overall energy conversion efficiency of 2.5% was achieved under solar irradiation of 600 W m−2. The I–V characteristics curves revealed that the short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage and fill factor of the cell are 3.87 mA, 659 mV and 59.0%, respectively.
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| 10. |
- Bandara, T M W J, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Effect of cation size on the performance of dye sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells based on quasi-solid state PAN electrolytes containing quaternary ammonium iodides
- 2013
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In: Electrochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-4686. ; 109, s. 609-616
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The performance of dye sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells based on quasi-solid state PAN electrolytes containing a series of six quaternary ammonium iodide salts NH4I, Eth(4)NI, Prop(4)NI, But(4)NI, Pent(4)NI, Hex(4)NI with different cation sizes has been evaluated. Even though the total ionic conductivity decreases with increasing cation size from NH4I to Hex(4)NI, the iodide ion conductivity in the electrolytes increases with cation size. The open circuit photovoltage (V-oc) of the dye sensitized solar cells also increases with cation radius. The efficiency of the DSSCs varies with cation size and exhibits a maximum for Prop(4)NI salt. The short circuit photo current density (J(sc)) follows a similar variation with cation size, suggesting a strong correlation between the cation size dependence of efficiency and J(sc). The DSSC fabricated with tetrapropylammonium iodide exhibited the maximum efficiency of 4.30% with maximum J(sc) of 10.78 mA cm(-2) and a V-oc of 0.746 V. The results have been interpreted on the basis of "the electrolyte effects" where J(sc) is determined essentially by the iodide ion conductivity and "the electrode effects" where the J(sc) and V-oc are determined by the cation adsorption in the dyed TiO2 electrode and resulting electron dynamics at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. For DSSCs with small cations, electrolyte effects appear to be dominating and rate determining while for DSSCs with larger cations, electrode effects appear to be dominating and rate determining. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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