Electrochimica Acta, Vol.56, No.24, 8811-8817, 2011
Influence of 2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid on the photovoltaic properties of a dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using poly(vinylidene fluoride) blended with poly(ethylene oxide) polymer electrolyte
A novel method of introducing a synthesized organic nitrogenous compound 2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid (BNIN) and its effect on the conduction behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer-blend electrolyte with potassium iodide (KI) and iodine (I-2) and the corresponding performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were studied. A systematic investigation of the blends using FTIR provides evidence of interaction of BNIN with the polymer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study proves the miscibility of these polymers. Due to the coordinating and plasticizing effects of BNIN, the ionic conductivity of polymer blend electrolytes is enhanced. The efficiency of DSSC using BNIN doped polymer blend electrolyte was 7.3% under an illumination of 60 mW cm(-2) were observed for the best performance of a solar cell in this work. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid;Dye-sensitized solar cells;Polymer-blend electrolyte;Poly(vinylidene fluoride);Poly(ethylene oxide)