An Efficient Fiber Gel Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell with Stable Interlaced Interfaces

Fiber gel dye-sensitized solar cells (FGDSCs) are recognized as an effective solution for high-performance, durable and safe wearable power supply. However, poor and unstable interfaces between fiber electrodes and gel electrolytes are bottleneck problems that have restricted the photovoltaic performances of FGDSCs and their stabilities during deformations. Here, an FGDSC with stable interlaced interfaces is designed by incorporating polymerized gel electrolyte into the aligned channels in fiber electrodes and the gaps between photoanode and counter electrode in situ. The interlaced structure of gel electrolyte in FGDSC improves the interfacial stability and provided stable channels for rapid ion diffusions, offering efficient charge transports at interfaces. The resulting FGDSC thus produced a high power conversion efficiency of 7.95%, and it is further maintained by over 90% after bending for 5000 cycles. These FGDSCs can be integrated with fiber batteries as a self-charging power system, demonstrating an effective power solution for wearables.