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M. A. K. L. Dissanayake - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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An innovative TiO2 nanoparticle/nanofibre/nanoparticle, three layer composite photoanode for efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2016Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, G. K. R. Senadeera, H. K. D. W. M. N. R. Divarathna, C.b. Dissanayake, Piyasiri Ekanayake, C.a. ThotawattageAbstract:Abstract An innovative type of composite photoanode consisting of a TiO 2 nanofibre (NF) layer sandwiched between two TiO 2 nanoparticle (NP) layers has been fabricated and tested in dye sensitized solar cells. After sintering, the nanofibres in the layer have turned to an elongated bead type nanostructure. DSSCs fabricated with the TiO 2 NP/NF/NP composite three layer photoanode sensitized with N 719 Ruthenium dye and a electrolyte solution consisting of tetrapropylammonium Iodide and iodine dissolved in acetontrile and ethylene carbonate co-solvent showed the highest efficiency of 7.09% where as the DSSC with TiO 2 nano particle photoanode and the same electrolyte showed an efficiency of 5.38%. The increased efficiency has been attributed to enhanced light harvesting due to scattering within the TiO 2 nanofibre structure. The efficiency of the highest efficiency DSSC has been further enhanced by using the “mixed cation effect” where the single Iodide Salt, Pr 4 NI, in the electrolyte has been replaced by two Iodide Salts KI and Pr 4 NI resulting an efficiency of 8.80%. The combined use of the TiO 2 three layer composite photoanode and the mixed cation Iodide Salt containing electrolyte represents an impressive efficiency enhancement by 64% compared to a corresponding DSSC made with TiO 2 nanoparticle (NP) photoanode and an electrolyte with the single Iodide Salt Pr 4 NI.
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Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based quasi-solid electrolyte with binary Iodide Salt for efficiency enhancement in TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells
Solid State Ionics, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, R. Jayathissa, V.a. Seneviratne, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:Enhancement of efficiency by using Iodide mixture (Pr4NI and I(1), instead of a single Iodide Salt, in N719 dye-sensitized solar cells with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based gel electrolyte is investigated. The Salt ratio is varied to optimize efficiency. With 100 wt.% KI and 100 wt.% (Pr4NI) efficiencies under AM 1.5 illumination are 3.39% and 3.21%, while 22.2:77.8 wt.% ratio KI:Pr4NI shows the highest efficiency of 3.99%. This is an efficiency enhancement of 18%. Variation of efficiency with Salt composition appears to correspond to the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) and the Iodide ion conductivity.
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Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte
2014Co-Authors: Abdul Kariem Arof, C. A. Thotawatthage, M. F. Aziz, M.m. Noor, M.a. Careem, L.r.a.k. Bandara, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, M. A. K. L. DissanayakeAbstract:This paper reports the effect of using a mixed Iodide Salt system with two dissimilar cations to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells made with polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) based gel electrolyte. Instead of a single Iodide Salt, a mixture of potassium Iodide (KI) with a small K + cation and tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr 4 NI) with a bulky Pr 4 N + cation were used to provide the required Iodide ion conductivity. Solar cells of configuration FTO/TiO 2 /Dye/electrolyte/Pt/FTO were fabricated using a mesoporous TiO 2 electrode sensitized with a Ruthenium dye (N719). With identical electrolyte compositions, the cells with KI and Pr 4 NI alone gave efficiencies of 2.37% and 2.90% respectively. The cell with the mixed Iodide system, KI:Pr 4 NI = 16.6:83.4 (% weight ratio), however, showed an enhanced efficiency of 3.92% with a short circuit current density of 9.16 mA cm -2 , open circuit voltage of 674.4 mV and a fill factor of 63.4%.
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Optimization of Iodide ion conductivity and nano filler effect for efficiency enhancement in polyethylene oxide (PEO) based dye sensitized solar cells
Electrochimica Acta, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, V.a. Seneviratne, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, G. K. R. SenadeeraAbstract:Abstract Efficiency enhancement is achieved in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) based gel electrolyte by optimizing the Iodide ion conductivity using a binary Iodide Salt and TiO 2 nanofiller. The binary Iodide Salt system consists of K + as the small cation and Pr 4 N + as the large cation. The correlation between the efficiency variation and the short circuit current density variation with Salt composition suggests that the improved Iodide ion conductivity of the electrolyte plays a dominant role in enhancing the solar cell performance. The highest DSSC efficiency of 4.12% is obtained for the electrolyte with Salt composition 25 wt% Pr 4 N + I − : 75 wt.% KI. The incorporation of 2.5 wt% TiO 2 nano fillers into the polymer electrolyte further enhances the solar cell efficiency to 5.31%, very likely due to the increased ionic mobility caused by the increased amorphous phase content of the PEO based polymer electrolyte.
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Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2014Co-Authors: Abdul Kariem Arof, C. A. Thotawatthage, M. F. Aziz, M.m. Noor, M.a. Careem, L.r.a.k. Bandara, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, M. A. K. L. DissanayakeAbstract:abstract This paper reports the effect of using a mixed Iodide Salt system with two dissimilar cat-ions to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells made with polyvinylidene-fluoride (PVdF) based gel electrolyte. Instead of a single Iodide Salt, a mixture of potassiumIodide (KI) with a small K þ cation and tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr 4 NI) with a bulkyPr 4 N þ cation were used to provide the required Iodide ion conductivity. Solar cells ofconfiguration FTO/TiO 2 /Dye/electrolyte/Pt/FTO were fabricated using a mesoporous TiO 2 electrode sensitized with a Ruthenium dye (N719). With identical electrolyte compositions,the cells with KI and Pr 4 NI alone gave efficiencies of 2.37% and 2.90% respectively. The cellwith the mixed Iodide system, KI:Pr 4 NI ¼ 16.6:83.4 (% weight ratio), however, showed anenhanced efficiency of 3.92% with a short circuit current density of 9.16 mA cm 2 , opencircuit voltage of 674.4 mV and a fill factor of 63.4%.Copyright a 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rightsreserved.
B.-e. Mellander - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based quasi-solid electrolyte with binary Iodide Salt for efficiency enhancement in TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells
Solid State Ionics, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, R. Jayathissa, V.a. Seneviratne, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:Enhancement of efficiency by using Iodide mixture (Pr4NI and I(1), instead of a single Iodide Salt, in N719 dye-sensitized solar cells with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based gel electrolyte is investigated. The Salt ratio is varied to optimize efficiency. With 100 wt.% KI and 100 wt.% (Pr4NI) efficiencies under AM 1.5 illumination are 3.39% and 3.21%, while 22.2:77.8 wt.% ratio KI:Pr4NI shows the highest efficiency of 3.99%. This is an efficiency enhancement of 18%. Variation of efficiency with Salt composition appears to correspond to the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) and the Iodide ion conductivity.
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Conductivity and Thermal Properties of PAN Based Polymer Electrolytes for Possible Application in Photo Electrochemical Solar Cells
J. of Electrical Engineering, 2013Co-Authors: Jayasundara Mudiyanselage, Wijendra Jayalath Bandara, Pierisge Sadeesha, Leonard Fernando, Sampath Fernado, Malavi Achchi, Kankanamge Lakshman Dissanayake, Lekam Ralalage, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:Two gel or quasi-solid-state electrolyte complexes based on PAN (polyacrylonitrile) host polymer and Salts Hex4NI (tetrahexylammonium Iodide), MgI2, LiI were prepared by incorporating plasticizers EC (ethylene carbonate) and PC (propylene carbonate). These are: PAN/EC/PC/I2/Hex4NI:MgI2 and PAN/EC/PC/I2/Hex4NI:LiI. A clear glass transition was observed around -100 ° C for all the electrolyte complexes. In the PAN/EC/PC/I2/Hex4NI:MgI2 system, a decrease in conductivity was observed with the addition of MgI2 and the electrolyte with Hex4NI alone as the Iodide Salt gave the maximum ionic conductivity of 2.51 × 10 -3 Scm -1 at 25 ° C. In the PAN/EC/PC/I2/Hex4NI:LiI system, an increase in conductivity was observed with the addition of LiI. Consequently the electrolyte with LiI as the only Iodide Salt gave the maximum ionic conductivity of 3.14 × 10 -3 Scm -1 at 25 ° C. The diffusion coefficient (D), the mobility (μ) and the density of charge carriers (n) in the electrolytes were calculated using complex impedance data and equations obtained for dielectric loss tangent. The measured data for dielectric loss tangent were fitted to the model equation. Calculated, n, μ and D values are around ~10 24 m -3 , ~10 -7 m 2 V -1 s -1 and ~10 -9 m 2 s -1 respectively for the two electrolyte systems. This type of Iodide ion conducting electrolytes could be suitable materials for PEC (photo electrochemical) solar cells.
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Efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on PAN gel electrolyte with Pr_4NI + MgI_2 binary Iodide Salt mixture
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. Bandara, W. J. M. J. S. R. Jayasundara, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:The effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture in N719 dye-sensitized TiO_2 solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated. The cells use tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr_4NI) and magnesium Iodide (MgI_2) in a plasticized polyacrylonitrile gel in glass/FTO/nano-porous TiO_2/gel, I_2/Pt/FTO/glass solar cell structure. The Salt composition in the gel electrolyte is varied to optimize the efficiency of DSSCs. The DSSCs with MgI_2 or Pr_4NI as the only Iodide Salt showed the efficiencies 2.56 and 4.16 %, respectively, under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm^−2) illumination while the DSSC with mixed cations with 18.4:81.6 MgI_2:Pr_4NI molar ratio shows the highest efficiency of 5.18 %. Thus the efficiency enhancement, relative to the high efficiency end member is about 25 %. DC polarization measurements establish the predominantly ionic behavior of the electrolytes, and show that the variation of efficiency with Salt composition correlates with the change in short circuit photocurrent density ( J _sc), which appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity. It is also found that J _sc correlates with the Iodide ion transference number estimated from DC polarization data taken with non-blocking iodine electrodes. This study suggests that binary Iodide mixtures may be used to obtain efficiency enhancement in different types of DSSCs based on polymeric, gel, or solvent electrolytes.
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Efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on PAN gel electrolyte with Pr4NI + MgI2 binary Iodide Salt mixture
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. Bandara, W. J. M. J. S. R. Jayasundara, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:The effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture in N719 dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated. The cells use tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr4NI) and magnesium Iodide (MgI2) in a plasticized polyacrylonitrile gel in glass/FTO/nano-porous TiO2/gel, I-2/Pt/FTO/glass solar cell structure. The Salt composition in the gel electrolyte is varied to optimize the efficiency of DSSCs. The DSSCs with MgI2 or Pr4NI as the only Iodide Salt showed the efficiencies 2.56 and 4.16 %, respectively, under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm(-2)) illumination while the DSSC with mixed cations with 18.4:81.6 MgI2:Pr4NI molar ratio shows the highest efficiency of 5.18 %. Thus the efficiency enhancement, relative to the high efficiency end member is about 25 %. DC polarization measurements establish the predominantly ionic behavior of the electrolytes, and show that the variation of efficiency with Salt composition correlates with the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J (sc)), which appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity. It is also found that J (sc) correlates with the Iodide ion transference number estimated from DC polarization data taken with non-blocking iodine electrodes. This study suggests that binary Iodide mixtures may be used to obtain efficiency enhancement in different types of DSSCs based on polymeric, gel, or solvent electrolytes.
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efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on pan gel electrolyte with pr4ni mgi2 binary Iodide Salt mixture
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. Bandara, W. J. M. J. S. R. Jayasundara, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:The effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture in N719 dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated. The cells use tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr4NI) and magnesium Iodide (MgI2) in a plasticized polyacrylonitrile gel in glass/FTO/nano-porous TiO2/gel, I-2/Pt/FTO/glass solar cell structure. The Salt composition in the gel electrolyte is varied to optimize the efficiency of DSSCs. The DSSCs with MgI2 or Pr4NI as the only Iodide Salt showed the efficiencies 2.56 and 4.16 %, respectively, under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm(-2)) illumination while the DSSC with mixed cations with 18.4:81.6 MgI2:Pr4NI molar ratio shows the highest efficiency of 5.18 %. Thus the efficiency enhancement, relative to the high efficiency end member is about 25 %. DC polarization measurements establish the predominantly ionic behavior of the electrolytes, and show that the variation of efficiency with Salt composition correlates with the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J (sc)), which appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity. It is also found that J (sc) correlates with the Iodide ion transference number estimated from DC polarization data taken with non-blocking iodine electrodes. This study suggests that binary Iodide mixtures may be used to obtain efficiency enhancement in different types of DSSCs based on polymeric, gel, or solvent electrolytes.
Yunfang Huang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on a sol–gel organic–inorganic composite electrolyte containing an organic Iodide Salt
Solar Energy, 2007Co-Authors: Zhang Lan, Dongbo Wang, Sancun Hao, Jianming Lin, Yunfang HuangAbstract:Abstract An organic–inorganic composite gel electrolyte based on TiO 2 gel, γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL) and N -methyl pyridine Iodide was prepared by the sol–gel method. This gel electrolyte shows high ambient ionic conductivity of 7.63 mS cm −1 , which is close to the data of liquid electrolyte with the same organic Iodide Salt and γ-butyrolactone. Based on the gel electrolyte, a quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated and the highest overall energy conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 3.06% was achieved under irradiation of 60 mW cm −2 .
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quasi solid state dye sensitized solar cells based on a sol gel organic inorganic composite electrolyte containing an organic Iodide Salt
Solar Energy, 2007Co-Authors: Zhang Lan, Dongbo Wang, Sancun Hao, Jianming Lin, Yunfang HuangAbstract:Abstract An organic–inorganic composite gel electrolyte based on TiO 2 gel, γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL) and N -methyl pyridine Iodide was prepared by the sol–gel method. This gel electrolyte shows high ambient ionic conductivity of 7.63 mS cm −1 , which is close to the data of liquid electrolyte with the same organic Iodide Salt and γ-butyrolactone. Based on the gel electrolyte, a quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated and the highest overall energy conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 3.06% was achieved under irradiation of 60 mW cm −2 .
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Gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) and a novel organic Iodide Salt for quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cell
Electrochimica Acta, 2006Co-Authors: Zhang Lan, Dongbo Wang, Sancun Hao, Jianming Lin, Yunfang Huang, Shu Yin, Tsugio SatoAbstract:Abstract A gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(acrylonitrile- co -styrene) as polymer matrix and N -methyl pyridine Iodide Salt as I − source was prepared. Controlling the concentration of polymer matrix of poly(acrylonitrile- co -styrene) at 17.5 wt.%, mixing the binary organic solvents mixture ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate with 6:4 (w/w), and the concentration of N -methyl pyridine Iodide and iodine with 0.5 and 0.05 M, respectively, the gel polymer electrolyte attains the maximum ionic conductivity (at 30 °C) of 4.63 mS cm −1 . Based on the gel polymer electrolyte, a quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated and its overall energy conversion efficiency of light-to-electricity of 3.10% was achieved under irradiation of 100 mW cm −2 .
G. K. R. Senadeera - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mixed cation effect and Iodide ion conductivity in electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cells
Ionics, 2016Co-Authors: M. A. K. Lakshman Dissanayake, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. BandaraAbstract:Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer an alternative to conventional silicon solar cell because of low cost and easy fabrication. However, one major drawback in DSSCs is their low efficiency. This paper reports the effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture with different size cations on the efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on polymer gel electrolytes. Several different polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), poly (vinylidenefluoride (PVdF)), and polyethylene oxide (PEO) have been used as host polymers. A binary Iodide mixture consisting of an alkaline Iodide Salt (small cation) and a quaternary ammonium Iodide Salt such as tetrapropyl ammonium Iodide (Pr4NI) (large cation) has been used as the Iodide ion source. In some of these systems, efficiency enhancement of more than 25% has been reached due to the “mixed cation effect”. From these studies, it was established that the variation of the power conversion efficiency with the concentration ratio of the two Iodide Salts follows the same trend as the short circuit current density (Jsc) and goes through a maximum at a particular Salt concentration ratio. The maximum efficiency was found to be higher than the efficiencies of the DSSCs with only a single Iodide Salt in the electrolyte. The Jsc in these DSSCs appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity of the gel electrolyte. The observed efficiency enhancement has been explained on the basis of the electrode effects as well as electrolyte effects where the cations play a dominant role.
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An innovative TiO2 nanoparticle/nanofibre/nanoparticle, three layer composite photoanode for efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2016Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, G. K. R. Senadeera, H. K. D. W. M. N. R. Divarathna, C.b. Dissanayake, Piyasiri Ekanayake, C.a. ThotawattageAbstract:Abstract An innovative type of composite photoanode consisting of a TiO 2 nanofibre (NF) layer sandwiched between two TiO 2 nanoparticle (NP) layers has been fabricated and tested in dye sensitized solar cells. After sintering, the nanofibres in the layer have turned to an elongated bead type nanostructure. DSSCs fabricated with the TiO 2 NP/NF/NP composite three layer photoanode sensitized with N 719 Ruthenium dye and a electrolyte solution consisting of tetrapropylammonium Iodide and iodine dissolved in acetontrile and ethylene carbonate co-solvent showed the highest efficiency of 7.09% where as the DSSC with TiO 2 nano particle photoanode and the same electrolyte showed an efficiency of 5.38%. The increased efficiency has been attributed to enhanced light harvesting due to scattering within the TiO 2 nanofibre structure. The efficiency of the highest efficiency DSSC has been further enhanced by using the “mixed cation effect” where the single Iodide Salt, Pr 4 NI, in the electrolyte has been replaced by two Iodide Salts KI and Pr 4 NI resulting an efficiency of 8.80%. The combined use of the TiO 2 three layer composite photoanode and the mixed cation Iodide Salt containing electrolyte represents an impressive efficiency enhancement by 64% compared to a corresponding DSSC made with TiO 2 nanoparticle (NP) photoanode and an electrolyte with the single Iodide Salt Pr 4 NI.
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Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based quasi-solid electrolyte with binary Iodide Salt for efficiency enhancement in TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells
Solid State Ionics, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, R. Jayathissa, V.a. Seneviratne, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:Enhancement of efficiency by using Iodide mixture (Pr4NI and I(1), instead of a single Iodide Salt, in N719 dye-sensitized solar cells with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based gel electrolyte is investigated. The Salt ratio is varied to optimize efficiency. With 100 wt.% KI and 100 wt.% (Pr4NI) efficiencies under AM 1.5 illumination are 3.39% and 3.21%, while 22.2:77.8 wt.% ratio KI:Pr4NI shows the highest efficiency of 3.99%. This is an efficiency enhancement of 18%. Variation of efficiency with Salt composition appears to correspond to the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) and the Iodide ion conductivity.
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Optimization of Iodide ion conductivity and nano filler effect for efficiency enhancement in polyethylene oxide (PEO) based dye sensitized solar cells
Electrochimica Acta, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, V.a. Seneviratne, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, G. K. R. SenadeeraAbstract:Abstract Efficiency enhancement is achieved in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) based gel electrolyte by optimizing the Iodide ion conductivity using a binary Iodide Salt and TiO 2 nanofiller. The binary Iodide Salt system consists of K + as the small cation and Pr 4 N + as the large cation. The correlation between the efficiency variation and the short circuit current density variation with Salt composition suggests that the improved Iodide ion conductivity of the electrolyte plays a dominant role in enhancing the solar cell performance. The highest DSSC efficiency of 4.12% is obtained for the electrolyte with Salt composition 25 wt% Pr 4 N + I − : 75 wt.% KI. The incorporation of 2.5 wt% TiO 2 nano fillers into the polymer electrolyte further enhances the solar cell efficiency to 5.31%, very likely due to the increased ionic mobility caused by the increased amorphous phase content of the PEO based polymer electrolyte.
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Efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on PAN gel electrolyte with Pr_4NI + MgI_2 binary Iodide Salt mixture
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. Bandara, W. J. M. J. S. R. Jayasundara, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:The effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture in N719 dye-sensitized TiO_2 solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated. The cells use tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr_4NI) and magnesium Iodide (MgI_2) in a plasticized polyacrylonitrile gel in glass/FTO/nano-porous TiO_2/gel, I_2/Pt/FTO/glass solar cell structure. The Salt composition in the gel electrolyte is varied to optimize the efficiency of DSSCs. The DSSCs with MgI_2 or Pr_4NI as the only Iodide Salt showed the efficiencies 2.56 and 4.16 %, respectively, under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm^−2) illumination while the DSSC with mixed cations with 18.4:81.6 MgI_2:Pr_4NI molar ratio shows the highest efficiency of 5.18 %. Thus the efficiency enhancement, relative to the high efficiency end member is about 25 %. DC polarization measurements establish the predominantly ionic behavior of the electrolytes, and show that the variation of efficiency with Salt composition correlates with the change in short circuit photocurrent density ( J _sc), which appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity. It is also found that J _sc correlates with the Iodide ion transference number estimated from DC polarization data taken with non-blocking iodine electrodes. This study suggests that binary Iodide mixtures may be used to obtain efficiency enhancement in different types of DSSCs based on polymeric, gel, or solvent electrolytes.
C. A. Thotawatthage - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based quasi-solid electrolyte with binary Iodide Salt for efficiency enhancement in TiO2 based dye sensitized solar cells
Solid State Ionics, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, R. Jayathissa, V.a. Seneviratne, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:Enhancement of efficiency by using Iodide mixture (Pr4NI and I(1), instead of a single Iodide Salt, in N719 dye-sensitized solar cells with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based gel electrolyte is investigated. The Salt ratio is varied to optimize efficiency. With 100 wt.% KI and 100 wt.% (Pr4NI) efficiencies under AM 1.5 illumination are 3.39% and 3.21%, while 22.2:77.8 wt.% ratio KI:Pr4NI shows the highest efficiency of 3.99%. This is an efficiency enhancement of 18%. Variation of efficiency with Salt composition appears to correspond to the change in short circuit photocurrent density (J(sc)) and the Iodide ion conductivity.
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Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte
2014Co-Authors: Abdul Kariem Arof, C. A. Thotawatthage, M. F. Aziz, M.m. Noor, M.a. Careem, L.r.a.k. Bandara, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, M. A. K. L. DissanayakeAbstract:This paper reports the effect of using a mixed Iodide Salt system with two dissimilar cations to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells made with polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) based gel electrolyte. Instead of a single Iodide Salt, a mixture of potassium Iodide (KI) with a small K + cation and tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr 4 NI) with a bulky Pr 4 N + cation were used to provide the required Iodide ion conductivity. Solar cells of configuration FTO/TiO 2 /Dye/electrolyte/Pt/FTO were fabricated using a mesoporous TiO 2 electrode sensitized with a Ruthenium dye (N719). With identical electrolyte compositions, the cells with KI and Pr 4 NI alone gave efficiencies of 2.37% and 2.90% respectively. The cell with the mixed Iodide system, KI:Pr 4 NI = 16.6:83.4 (% weight ratio), however, showed an enhanced efficiency of 3.92% with a short circuit current density of 9.16 mA cm -2 , open circuit voltage of 674.4 mV and a fill factor of 63.4%.
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Optimization of Iodide ion conductivity and nano filler effect for efficiency enhancement in polyethylene oxide (PEO) based dye sensitized solar cells
Electrochimica Acta, 2014Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, V.a. Seneviratne, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, G. K. R. SenadeeraAbstract:Abstract Efficiency enhancement is achieved in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) based gel electrolyte by optimizing the Iodide ion conductivity using a binary Iodide Salt and TiO 2 nanofiller. The binary Iodide Salt system consists of K + as the small cation and Pr 4 N + as the large cation. The correlation between the efficiency variation and the short circuit current density variation with Salt composition suggests that the improved Iodide ion conductivity of the electrolyte plays a dominant role in enhancing the solar cell performance. The highest DSSC efficiency of 4.12% is obtained for the electrolyte with Salt composition 25 wt% Pr 4 N + I − : 75 wt.% KI. The incorporation of 2.5 wt% TiO 2 nano fillers into the polymer electrolyte further enhances the solar cell efficiency to 5.31%, very likely due to the increased ionic mobility caused by the increased amorphous phase content of the PEO based polymer electrolyte.
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Efficiency enhancement by mixed cation effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with a PVdF based gel polymer electrolyte
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2014Co-Authors: Abdul Kariem Arof, C. A. Thotawatthage, M. F. Aziz, M.m. Noor, M.a. Careem, L.r.a.k. Bandara, W. N. S. Rupasinghe, M. A. K. L. DissanayakeAbstract:abstract This paper reports the effect of using a mixed Iodide Salt system with two dissimilar cat-ions to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells made with polyvinylidene-fluoride (PVdF) based gel electrolyte. Instead of a single Iodide Salt, a mixture of potassiumIodide (KI) with a small K þ cation and tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr 4 NI) with a bulkyPr 4 N þ cation were used to provide the required Iodide ion conductivity. Solar cells ofconfiguration FTO/TiO 2 /Dye/electrolyte/Pt/FTO were fabricated using a mesoporous TiO 2 electrode sensitized with a Ruthenium dye (N719). With identical electrolyte compositions,the cells with KI and Pr 4 NI alone gave efficiencies of 2.37% and 2.90% respectively. The cellwith the mixed Iodide system, KI:Pr 4 NI ¼ 16.6:83.4 (% weight ratio), however, showed anenhanced efficiency of 3.92% with a short circuit current density of 9.16 mA cm 2 , opencircuit voltage of 674.4 mV and a fill factor of 63.4%.Copyright a 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rightsreserved.
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Efficiency enhancement in dye sensitized solar cells based on PAN gel electrolyte with Pr_4NI + MgI_2 binary Iodide Salt mixture
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2013Co-Authors: M. A. K. L. Dissanayake, C. A. Thotawatthage, G. K. R. Senadeera, T. M. W. J. Bandara, W. J. M. J. S. R. Jayasundara, B.-e. MellanderAbstract:The effect of using a binary Iodide Salt mixture in N719 dye-sensitized TiO_2 solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated. The cells use tetrapropylammonium Iodide (Pr_4NI) and magnesium Iodide (MgI_2) in a plasticized polyacrylonitrile gel in glass/FTO/nano-porous TiO_2/gel, I_2/Pt/FTO/glass solar cell structure. The Salt composition in the gel electrolyte is varied to optimize the efficiency of DSSCs. The DSSCs with MgI_2 or Pr_4NI as the only Iodide Salt showed the efficiencies 2.56 and 4.16 %, respectively, under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm^−2) illumination while the DSSC with mixed cations with 18.4:81.6 MgI_2:Pr_4NI molar ratio shows the highest efficiency of 5.18 %. Thus the efficiency enhancement, relative to the high efficiency end member is about 25 %. DC polarization measurements establish the predominantly ionic behavior of the electrolytes, and show that the variation of efficiency with Salt composition correlates with the change in short circuit photocurrent density ( J _sc), which appears to be governed by the Iodide ion conductivity. It is also found that J _sc correlates with the Iodide ion transference number estimated from DC polarization data taken with non-blocking iodine electrodes. This study suggests that binary Iodide mixtures may be used to obtain efficiency enhancement in different types of DSSCs based on polymeric, gel, or solvent electrolytes.
