A hybrid PVDF-HFP/nanoparticle gel electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Graphite and TiO2 nanoparticles are used as fillers to prepare a polymer gel electrolyte (PGE) based on I-/I3- and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Graphite nanoparticles (GNP) were proved to be a more efficient filler than TiO2 in enhancing the charge conductivity of the PGE, decreasing the activation energy for charge transport and inhibiting the charge recombination at the TiO2/electrolyte interface. The energy conversion efficiency of a DSSC fabricated using a PGE containing 0.25 wt% of GNP can be increased from 4.69% (without filler) to 6.04%, close to that of a liquid system obtained in this work.