Polymer Graphene Composite Gel Electrolyte for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dye-sensitized solar cells using polymer gel electrolytes face challenges with high viscosity leading to incomplete injection into mesoscale pores and low photoelectric conversion efficiency due to low ion diffusibility and conductivity, particularly when using conventional polymer-based electrolytes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of a polymer particle layer on a counter electrode, coated with graphene flakes, followed by in-situ gelation with an electrolytic solution to create a polymer/graphene composite gel electrolyte, enhancing ion diffusibility and conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer gel electrolyte is used to replace liquid electrolyte, then leakage and evaporation are reduced improving stability, but viscosity increases making injection into mesoscale pores difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer gel electrolyte by controlling polymer concentration (5-20 wt%), using specific molecular weight polymers (100,000-1,000,000), and adjusting crosslinking density to optimize the balance between viscosity and gelation properties, enabling successful injection while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the polymer gel electrolyte solution with appropriate viscosity and gelation characteristics before injection, allowing it to flow into mesoscale pores during assembly, then triggers gelation after injection to achieve the desired stability without injection difficulties
2Strength
If polymer concentration is increased to improve gel strength, then structural integrity improves, but ion diffusibility and conductivity decrease reducing photoelectric conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes polymer concentration within the range of 5-20 wt% and selects specific molecular weights (100,000-1,000,000) to achieve the right balance between gel strength and ion transport properties, ensuring both structural integrity and photoelectric conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite gel electrolyte system combining polymer matrix with ionic liquid or salt components, where the polymer provides structural strength while the ionic components ensure high ion conductivity and diffusibility, resolving the contradiction between gel strength and photoelectric conversion efficiency
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymer-based electrolyte is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ion diffusibility and conductivity are low reducing photoelectric conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite gel electrolyte combining conventional polymer materials with ionic liquids or salts, maintaining the ease of manufacture of polymer-based systems while significantly enhancing ion diffusibility and conductivity through the ionic components, thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polymer electrolyte by incorporating ionic liquids or salts at optimized concentrations, changing the electrolyte's ion transport properties while maintaining polymer-based manufacturability and processing advantages
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The polymer/graphene composite gel electrolyte achieves photoelectric conversion efficiency comparable to conventional liquid electrolytes, addressing issues of incomplete injection and stability, and can be applied to energy devices like lithium batteries and capacitors.
Implementation Method 1
injecting an electrolytic solution into a gap between the counter electrode and a photoelectrode for in-situ gelation of the polymer particle layer by a solvent included in the electrolytic solution to form a polymer matrix
Implementation Method 2
a carbon nanomaterial tends to improve conductivity and dissociation due to its high adsorption of lithium ions
Implementation Method 3
The nanoparticle fillers compensate low diffusibility of electrolyte ions and low conductivity of the polymer gel electrolyte film in the polymer matrix
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a dye-sensitized solar cell including a polymer/graphene composite gel electrolyte and methods of preparing the dye-sensitized solar cell.