Shape-Controlled TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanomaterials-Based Hybrid Solid-State Electrolytes for Solar Energy Conversion with a Mesoporous Carbon Electrocatalyst

One-dimensional (1D) titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2)</sub> is prepared by hydrothermal method and incorporated as nanofiller into a hybrid polymer matrix of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and employed as a solid-electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Mesoporous carbon electrocatalyst...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Seung Man Lim, Juyoung Moon, Uoon Chul Baek, Jae Yeon Lee, Youngjin Chae, Jung Tae Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/4/913
Description
Summary:One-dimensional (1D) titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2)</sub> is prepared by hydrothermal method and incorporated as nanofiller into a hybrid polymer matrix of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and employed as a solid-electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Mesoporous carbon electrocatalyst with a high surface area is obtained by the carbonization of the PVDC-<i>g</i>-POEM double comb copolymer. The 1D TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofiller is found to increase the photoelectrochemical performance. As a result, for the mesoporous carbon-based DSSCs, 1D TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid solid-state electrolyte yielded the highest efficiencies, with 6.1% under 1 sun illumination, in comparison with the efficiencies of 3.9% for quasi solid-state electrolyte and 4.8% for commercial TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid solid-state electrolyte, respectively. The excellent photovoltaic performance is attributed to the improved ion diffusion, scattering effect, effective path for redox couple transfer, and sufficient penetration of 1D TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid solid-state electrolyte into the electrode, which results in improved light-harvesting, enhanced electron transport, decreased charge recombination, and decreased resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface.
ISSN:2079-4991