Ionic liquid-based electrolyte solidified with SiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on the propyl-methyl-imidazolium iodide (PMII) ionic liquid (IL) with and without the addition of SiO 2 nanoparticles is studied. Results confirm that the presence of SiO 2 nanoparticles in PMII electrolyte improves the charge transport of iodide/tri-iodide redox couple in the electrolyte and consequently increases the efficiency of DSSC up to 20%, relatively. Short circuit current density ( J SC ) of the DSSC under illumination may be limited by the charge transport of the redox couple in the IL-based electrolytes and a theoretical maximum of J SC can be evaluated from the cyclic voltammetry measurements of simple symmetric cells (TCO-Pt electrolyte Pt-TCO). The results show a strong temperature dependence of the DSSC performance if the PMII/I 2 -based electrolytes are used.