On the Mass Transport in Apparently Iodine-Free Ionic Liquid Polyaniline-Coated Carbon Black Composite Electrolytes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

• DOI: 10.1021/jp401401t
• Publication Date: 2013-04-25T20:56:34Z
• Authors: Henri Vahlman; Janne Halme; Juuso Korhonen; Kerttu Aitola; Janne Patakangas
• Keywords: Limiting current; Leakage (economics)

Volatile electrolytes are a stability concern in dye solar cells (DSCs) due to their tendency for leakage. A composite electrolyte consisting of iodide-based ionic liquid and polyaniline-coated carbon black has been previously reported provide good current transport while being leakage proof quasi-solid structure the absence volatile constituents. In this paper we investigate operating principle type especially its exceptional feature efficiently without added iodine. The additive iodine is significant fact that it usually required form carrying I–/I3– redox couple. We modified an mass model from literature estimate upper limit charge capability electrolyte. Comparison experimental results with estimated diffusion limiting density shows clearly high densities observed experimentally can not be explained normal even case every feasible source mechanism free I3– known until now considered, including photogeneration I3–, shortened layer thickness, impurity accumulation photoelectrode counterelectrode pores edge regions. This intriguing result suggests currently unknown or DSC.