The influences of different bi-component supramolecular gel electrolytes on the photovoltaic performances of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell

Two types of bi-component supramolecular gel electrolytes were prepared. It is interesting that the single molecular N,N ′-1,3-propanediylbis-dodecanamide cannot form gel electrolyte. However, when 1,6-diaminohexane and adipic acid as co-gelators were added to the liquid electrolyte containing N,N ′-1,3-propanediylbis-dodecanamide, the corresponding supramolecular gel electrolytes, Gel 1 and Gel 2 were formed. And these two gel electrolytes exhibit significantly different morphology of 3D network. The influences of different morphology and electrolyte component on the dynamic process and photovoltaic performances of quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (QS-DSSCs) were investigated by the controlled intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy (IMPS/IMVS) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. It is found that Gel 2 presents a sparser network structure compared with Gel 1. Moreover, Gel 2 based QS-DSSC shows a dramatic enhancement in short circuit photocurrent density ( J sc ) and while a slightly decrease in open circuit voltage ( V oc ) than those of Gel 1 based QS-DSSC. And more remarkable, the power conversion efficiency of Gel 2 based QS-DSSC (5.89%) is higher than that of Gel 1 based QS-DSSC (5.05%), which even slightly exceeds that of the DSSC based on the liquid electrolyte (5.82%).