Fe2O3 as an efficient filler in PVDF-HFP based polymeric electrolyte for dye sensitized solar cell application

Fe2O3 was synthesized by chemical precipitation method and used as filler in PVDF-HFP based polymer electrolyte for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. The plasticized polymer membrane was developed by simple solution casting method with incorporation of Fe2O3 where propylene carbonate was used as plasticizing agent. Structural confirmation of synthesized Fe2O3 powder and crystallinity studies prepared polymer membrane with different weight% of Fe2O3 was studied by the X-ray diffraction analysis. Fourier transform infrared studies of polymer membrane are done to study nature of polymer. Fe2O3 incorporated PVDF-HFP based polymer electrolyte showed ionic conductivity of 6.36 x 10(-4) S/cm and diffusion coefficient was found to be 1.02 x 10(-6) cm(2)/s. Furthermore, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis has been done to study interfacial resistance. The prepared polymer electrolyte (2 wt% filler in PVDF-HFP based) was used in DSSC fabrication, where calculated power conversion efficiency was 3.62% with the enhancement of 2.1 times when compared to pure PVDF-HFP electrolyte. The photocurrent stability of the device under several light on-off cycles is proved via chronoamperometry study. In addition, variation of power conversion efficiencies as a function of time has also been analyzed.