A low-cost quasi-solid DSSC assembled with PVDF-based gel electrolyte plasticized by PC–EC & electrodeposited Pt counter electrode

A low-cost quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 1.79% was assembled using PVDF-based gel electrolyte plasticized by PC–EC and electrodeposited Pt counter electrodes. Its morphology, chemical structure, electrochemical and photoelectric properties were examined by SEM, FTIR, EIS and I – V tests, respectively. The results showed that PC–EC plasticized gel electrolyte can greatly prevent the α-phase formation of PVDF, and had the loose structure & many interpenetrating holes due to the effective intercalation of PC & EC into PVDF chains through their dipole interaction. It made the migration or diffusion of iodide ions to electrodes easier. Furthermore, its conductivity was increased to 2.34   mS/cm from 1.00   mS/cm of unplasticized gel electrolyte. V oc , J sc , FF & η values of DSSC plasticized by PC–EC were all enhanced. Compared with Pt electrode obtained by thermal decomposition, electrodeposited Pt electrode had the lower charge-transfer resistance and the better contact with gel electrolyte in quasi-solid DSSC due to its orderly grain arrangement, more even, denser and larger active surface. Meanwhile, its process also had little influence on ITO sheet resistance. Thus, its quasi-solid DSSC has the higher photoelectric conversion efficiency.