All-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Alkyloxy-Imidazolium Iodide Ionic Polymer/SiO2 Nanocomposite Electrolyte and Triphenylamine-Based Organic Dyes

We report on all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with alkyloxy-imidazolium iodide ionic polymer/SiO 2 nanocomposite electrolyte and triphenylamine-based metal-free organic dyes (TC15). By optimizing the content of I 2, 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide, and SiO 2 nanoparticles in the electrolyte, considerable ionic conductivity of 0.151 mS cm −1 is achieved due to the formation of high-efficiency electron exchange tunnels. The electrolyte is further characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result of differential scanning calorimetry shows that the melting temperature of the electrolyte is 120 °C. The SEM analysis reveals a favorable interfacial contact between the electrolyte and the TiO 2 . The all-solid-state solar cells with the as-prepared alkyloxy-imidazolium iodide ionic polymer/SiO 2 nanocomposite electrolyte and triphenylamine-based metal-free organic dyes attains high energy conversion efficiency of 2.70% and 4.12% under the illumination intensities of 100 and 10 mW cm −2, respectively. This study should shed light on the development of all-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells with nanocomposite ionic polymer electrolyte and metal-free organic dyes.