Suppression of back electron recombination on the photoanode-electrolyte interface with poly(4-vinylbenzoic acid) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) co-adsorbents for stable and efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024-01-02

Authors

Daniela F. S. L. Rodrigues (Author) FEUP; Jorge Martins (Author) Other; Frédéric SAUVAGE (Author) Other; Carlos M.R. Abreu (Author) Other; Jorge F.J. Coelho (Author) Other; Arménio C. Serra (Author) Other; Dzmitry Ivanou (Author) FEUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: SURFACES AND INTERFACES

Vol. 44

Pages: 103627-103637

ISSN: 2468-0230

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2023.103627

Abstract (EN): Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are one of the most intensively developing PV technology to meet the emerging needs of wireless power for billions of IoT devices and wireless electronics; DSSCs have recently entered the indoor PV market. Suppressors of back electron recombination on the photoanode-electrolyte interface, also known as co-adsorbents, are key components of the DSSCs to obtain high power conversion efficiencies (PCE). Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), yet obtained by extraction from the animal liver, dominates among other co- adsorbent and enables devices with the highest PCE and long lifetime. Achieving adequate PCE with long- term device stability with CDCA alternatives is a challenge addressed in this study using poly4-vinylbenzoic acid (PVBA) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP). Polymeric co-adsorbents effectively suppress electron transfer from the TiO2/N719 photoanode to I3 /3I electrolyte resulting in decently performing devices with 1-sun equivalent PCEs of 8.3 % and 9 %, respectively; 17.5 % and 22 % of artificial light PCEs were achieved. The presence of the polymer hampers molecular dye aggregation within the self-assembled monolayer; the accel- eration of the charge injection and excited dye prolonging was monitored by Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting photoluminescence spectroscopy. Intrinsic device degradation in the accelerated light soaking test was assessed according to ISOS-L2 protocol. Carboxylic-functioned molecular chain of PVBA allows stronger adsorption on the photoanode-electrolyte interface and renderes stable devices with 1000 h of PCE history equivalent to conventional CDCA

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10