A new type quasi-solid state electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells

A new type quasi-solid state electrolyte was prepared by solidifying liquid electrolytes containing organic solvents (such as mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC), 3-methoxypropinitrile (NMP) and N-methyl-oxazolidinone (NMO)) with comb-like molten salt type polymer, and was for the first time employed in dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The optimal electrolyte composition was obtained by regulating the polymer content in the electrolytes and optimizing performance data of the electrolytes and assembled cells, yielding a maximum conversion efficiency of 6.58% (AM 1.5, 100 mW·cm⁻²). Furthermore, the existence of this new type polymer in the electrolyte suppresses the evaporation of organic solvent and improves the stability of the cells.