Currently, solar cell technology, which converts solar energy into electrical energy, is mostly explored with the potential to be a safe, green and low-cost solution to the global energy crisis. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are an attractive alternative to silicon-based solar cells since they can be fabricated by low-cost solution processes. The advancement of DSSCs is highly dependent on identifying more efficient electrolytes, which play a critical role in the performance of DSSCs. The main goal of this project was to prepare single-walled carbon nanotube-ionic liquid (SWNT-IL) mixtures with optimum electrolyte properties for DSSCs. Specifically, imidazolium ILs bearing cations with side chains of different lengths and functionality coupled with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide -NTf2- or bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide -FSA- anions were used to prepare SWNT-IL mixtures. The degree of de-bundling of the SWNTs by the various ILs; the viscosity, and the conductivity properties of the various SWNT-IL mixtures; and the light conversion efficiencies of the various SWNT-IL electrolytes in DSSCs were investigated. The degree of the de-bundling of the SWNTs and the specific chemical interactions between the SWNTs and the ILs were studied by UV-Visible, Raman and Mid-IR spectroscopy. It was determined that the ILs do not affect the structural integrity of the SWNTs but do facilitate the separation of bundled SWNTs. Conductivity values greater than 5.0 mS/cm at 25 °C were obtained for SWNT-IL mixtures, showing that SWNTs when mixed with imidazolium-based ILs, specifically coupled with NTf2- and FSA- anions, prove to serve as promising electrolytes for the use in DSSCs.

Optimizing the use of single-walled carbon nanotube as electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

256th National Meeting (2018)

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