Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Electrolytes for Next-Generation Quasi-Solid Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: A Review

In pursuit of alternative energy, many technologies have been explored over the decades by research communities. Among these, the utilization of solar radiation by solar cells has been extensively studied, especially in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Among different DSSC electrolytes, polymer-based quasi-solid electrolytes have gained much attention, as they overcome shortcomings including limited ion movement and solvent evaporation of solid and liquid electrolytes, respectively. Moreover, in a polymer-based quasi-solid electrolyte, the porosity and amorphous nature of the electrolyte, which govern the ionic movement, are easily controllable. Electrospinning, an emerging method for fabricating controllable porous and amorphous polymer membranes, has been extensively used for the design of polymer-based quasi-solid electrolytes in recent decades. Low cost, ease of use, versatility, and great control over the morphology and physicochemical properties of the final product make electrospinning a potentially economically feasible technique for QDSSC electrolyte fabrication. In this comprehensive review, an overview of the recent inputs in the development of electrospun fiber-based quasi-electrolytes has been compiled. The performance of the electrospun fiber-based electrolytes has been critically reviewed based on numerous operational parameters as well as the physicochemical properties of the polymers. Key technical challenges and future research avenues for electrospinning-based QDSSCs are also discussed.