M.H. Buraidah

TiO2/Chitosan-NH4I(+I2)-BMII-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Anthocyanin Dyes Extracted from Black Rice and Red Cabbage

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using anthocyanin dye and polymer electrolyte with ammonium iodide (NH4I) salt. The study was designed to focus on increasing the efficiency of the DSSC. DSSC using 26.9 wt. % chitosan-22 wt. % NH4I(

Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with (PVDF-HFP)-KI-EC-PC Electrolyte and Different Dye Materials

A plasticized polymer electrolyte system composed of PVDF-HFP, potassium iodide (KI), and equal weight of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) has been used in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The electrolyte with the composition 40 wt. % PVDF-HFP-10 wt. % KI-50 wt. % (EC

One-step electrochemical deposition of Ni1−xMoxS ternary sulfides as an efficient counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Ternary sulfides of Ni1−xMoxS films with various compositions (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2) were fabricated on a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by a simple one-step electrochemical deposition method. The electrochemically deposited ternary sulfides were utilized as a low-cost and highly efficient platinum free counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The structure, surface morphology and elemental composition of the electrochemically deposited ternary sulfides were examined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A phthaloylchitosan (PhCh) based polymer electrolyte was used as an electrolyte for DSSCs. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel polarization studies revealed that the Ni0.95Mo0.05S CE exhibited lower charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface and higher electrocatalytic activity towards the regeneration of I− from I3− relative to other compositions. The Ni0.95Mo0.05S ternary sulfide offers a positive synergistic effect for the electrochemical catalytic activity towards the reduction of I3−, which may be due to an increase in active catalytic sites and low-charge transfer resistance and achieved a high power conversion efficiency of 7.15% with a Voc of 0.65 V, a Jsc of 17.21 mA cm−2, and a FF of 0.64 with a PhCh-based polymer electrolyte, which is comparable to that of the conventional Pt CE (7.20%). The present investigation demonstrates that the electrochemically deposited Ni0.95Mo0.05S ternary sulfide is a promising candidate as a low-cost and highly efficient CE in DSSCs.

Characterizations of Chitosan-Based Polymer Electrolyte Photovoltaic Cells

The membranes 55 wt.% chitosan-45 wt.% , 33 wt.% chitosan-27 wt.% -40 wt.% EC, and 27.5 wt.% chitosan-22.5 wt.% -50 wt.% buthyl-methyl-imidazolium-iodide (BMII) exhibit conductivity of , , and S , respectively, at room temperature. These membranes have been used in the fabrication of solid-state solar cells with configuration ITO//polymer electrolyte membrane/ITO. It is observed that the short-circuit current density increases with conductivity of the electrolyte. The use of anthocyanin pigment obtained by solvent extraction from black rice and betalain from the callus of Celosia plumosa also helps to increase the short-circuit current.

Characterisation of Li2SnO3 by solution evaporation method using nitric acid as chelating agent

Abstract Lithium stannate (Li2SnO3) was prepared by solution evaporation method utilising acetates of tin and lithium as starting materials. From thermogravimetric analysis, no weight loss was observed at temperatures above 800°C. The Li2SnO3 precursor was then sintered at 800°C for 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 h, respectively. X-ray diffraction confirmed the sample to be Li2SnO3 with a monoclinic cell structure. The lattice parameters, volume and density of Li2SnO3 at different sintering hours were calculated. Sintering the precursor at 800°C for 9 h produced Li2SnO3 with lattice parameters a = 5·302 Å, b = 9·167 Å and c = 10·032 Å, volume of 479·922 Å3 and density of 4·999 g cm−3. The product was used as anode active material in the fabrication of a lithium half cell. The Li2SnO3//1M LiPF6/ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (v/v = 1∶2)//Li cell exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 363·1 mA h g−1.

PVA-based gel polymer electrolytes doped with (CH3)4NI/KI for application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and double iodide salts have been prepared using ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC). Potassium iodide (KI) and tetramethylammonium iodide (TMAI) were used as mixed salts for making the electrolyte ion conducting. The highest room temperature (298K) conductivity of 12.91 mS·cm-1 is obtained for the GPE containing the double salts in the ratio of 70 wt.% KI:30 wt.% TMAI, whereas the single salt electrolytes, 100 wt.% KI:0 wt.% TMAI and 0 wt.% KI:100 wt.% TMAI have the conductivities of 12.48 and 3.94 mS·cm-1, respectively. Utilizing the highest conducting binary salts electrolyte as the electrolyte medium in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) produced the highest efficiency (η) of 3.45%.

Dye-sensitized solar cells using binary iodide-PVA gel electrolyte

In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-salt gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) have been prepared with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Potassium iodide (KI) and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (TPAI) salts have been used to provide the conducting ions. The single salt system (containing KI only) with composition 15.20 wt. % PVA - 31.73 wt. % KI - 22.67 wt. % EC - 30.40 wt. % PC has the highest room temperature conductivity of 1.25 × 10-2 S cm-1. With addition of TPAI, conductivity of 9.79×10-3 S·cm-1 has been obtained for 15.21 wt. % PVA - 15.86 wt. % KI - 15.86 wt. % TPAI - 22.67 wt. % EC - 30.40 wt. % PC and is the highest conducting electrolyte in the binary salt system. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using the electrolyte with only KI salt exhibits an efficiency of 2.64% whereas DSSC utilizing binary salt electrolyte system has efficiency of 3.12%.

Third-Generation-Sensitized Solar Cells

The need to produce renewable energy with low production cost is indispensable in making the dream of avoiding undue reliance on non-renewable energy a reality. The emergence of a third-generation photovoltaic technology that is still in the infant stage gives hope for such a dream. Solar cells sensitized by dyes, quantum dots and perovskites are considered to be third-generation technological devices. This research focuses on the development of suitable and reliable sensitizers to widen electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption and to ensure stability of the photovoltaic system. This article discusses the basic principles and the progress in sensitized photovoltaics.