Application of a composite polymer electrolyte based on montmorillonite in dye-sensitized solar cells

Autor(es)

Bruno Ieiri Ito ; Jilian Nei de Freitas ; Marco-Aurelio De Paoli ; Ana Flávia Nogueira

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society; v. 19, n. 4, p. 688-696, 2008.

Resumo

In this work we report for the first time the preparation and characterization of a novel composite polymer electrolyte based on montmorillonite clay and a poly(ethylene oxide) derivative plasticized with g-butyrolactone and its application in dye sensitized solar cells. Although the plasticizers enhance the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes, they compromise the mechanical stability of the whole system and make the practical application of these devices difficult. Films with composite polymer electrolytes containing different clay content were analyzed by thermal and mechanical analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We observed that the addition of the inorganic particles to the polymer matrix promotes not only an enhancement in the mechanical properties but also contributes to the increase the of ionic conductivity of the system. A solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was assembled for this first time with the electrolyte containing montmorillonite clay, displaying efficiencies higher than 3% at 10 mW cm-2. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 05/56627-5 - Nanocompósitos de elastômeros de óxido de etileno e argila e sua aplicação como eletrólito em células solares
• Beneficiário: Bruno Leiri Ito
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 05/56924-0 - Células fotovoltaicas híbridas de polímeros condutores e nanopartículas inorgânicas
• Beneficiário: Jilian Nei de Freitas
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado