Keng-Jen Lin

Gelation of ionic liquid with exfoliated montmorillonite nanoplatelets and its application for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

The exfoliated montmorillonite (exMMT) nanoplatelets that carry negative charges are capable of adsorbing 1-methyl-3-propyl-imidazolium cations to form a gel-type ionic liquid-based electrolyte system for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Interestingly, it also increases the power conversion efficiency of DSSC from 6.58% to 7.77% at full sun. The increased efficiency is attributed to the decreased resistance of gel electrolyte system and enhanced reduction reaction rate at the counter electrode, both of which are related to the two-dimensional electrolyte nature of exMMTs that repel the I(-)/I(3)(-) redox couples toward their major conduction pathway.

Chapter 4:PMMA-based Montmorillonite Nanocomposites by Soap-free Emulsion Polymerization

This chapter introduces the current development in the exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT)/poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)-based nanocomposites fabricated by soap-free emulsion polymerization. MMT is hydrophilic in nature and MMA monomer is slightly soluble in water. By using the soap-free emulsion polymerization of MMA in the presence of MMT, MMT can be exfoliated during micellation stage, resulting in the formation of exfoliated MMT/PMMA nanocomposite latex particles. To lower Tg of the MMT/PMMA nanocomposites by copolymerizing with methylacrylate, the resulting nanocomposite latices can be cast into films, which were found to have superior tensile properties, low permeability and high flame retardation. This chapter will illustrate their fabrication methods, structure, novel properties and applications.