Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells constructed with an electrochrome impregnated elastomeric electrolyte

A new type of hybrid polymer electrolyte matrix based on benzidine impregnated polyepichlorohydrine (PEC) with TiO2 nanofiller was developed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The polymer electrolytes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TGA, XRD and FT-IR, and the assembled DSSCs by photocurrent density-voltage and energy conversion efficiency (eta) measurements. The ionic conductivity and the interfacial contact with dye attached TiO2 particles were enhanced markedly by the addition of electrochrome impregnated polymer electrolyte. resulting in very high overall energy conversion efficiency. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.