Preparation and Characterization of Polymer based Electrolytes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Application

  • Faisal I Chowdhury Nanotechnology and Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (NRERL), Department of Chemistry, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh; Center for Ionics University of Malaya, Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Zabed Hossain M. School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China.
  • M. H. Buraidah Center for Ionics University of Malaya, Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • A. K. Arof Center for Ionics University of Malaya, Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Jahidul Islam Nanotechnology and Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (NRERL), Department of Chemistry, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
  • M. Rezaur Rahman Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy Sustainability, Faculty of Engineering, University Malaysia Sarawak
  • Jamal Uddin Center for Nanotechnology, Department of Natural Sciences, Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Keywords: Gel Polymer Electrolytes (GPEs); Polyacrylonitrile (PAN); Tetrapentylammonium Iodide (TPeAI); Limiting Current Density; Exchange Current Density.

Abstract

A gel-type polymer electrolyte (GPE) composite based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) conducting polymer plasticized with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) doped by different compositions of tetrapentylammonium iodide (TPeAI) salt has been prepared and investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) techniques have been used to characterize the prepared GPEs. From the EIS study, it has been observed that 30 wt % TPeAIcontaining GPE has the lowest bulk impedance, Rb (32 ohm) and highest room-temperature ionic conductivity (2.4910-3 S cm-1). The conductivity vs temperature diagram in the range of studied temperature studied follows the Arrhenius rule. The values of activation energies, (Ea) are observed to decrease with the increase of the percentage of TPeAI percentage with the lowest values (8.50105 J/mol) for 30% TPeAI containing GPE. From LSV graphs for the GPE systems, various parameters such as the limiting current density (Jlim), the apparent diffusion coefficient of triiodide ion () and exchange current density (J0) have been estimated. The most conducting GPE material shows the highest values of Jlim (3.95 mA.cm-2),  (7.86×10-8cm2 s-1) and J0 (0.46 mA.cm-2). The GPEs will be suitable for application in Dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC).

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Published
2021-04-30
How to Cite
I Chowdhury, F., Hossain M. , Z., Buraidah, M. H., A. K. Arof, Jahidul Islam, Rahman , M. R., & Uddin , J. (2021). Preparation and Characterization of Polymer based Electrolytes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Application. Journal of Applied Science & Process Engineering, 8(1), 750-764. https://doi.org/10.33736/jaspe.3254.2021