The use of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to replace silicon-based solar cells is attracting increased attention. However, it is necessary for more efficient electrolytes to be developed in order to facilitate their increased commercialization. It has been reported that ionic liquids (ILs) with intrinsic high conductivities are ideal media for dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) improving their ion diffusion properties. In this study, the transport properties of mixtures containing SWNTs in 1-(alkyl or ether)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ILs were determined to assess their potential as electrolytes in DSSCs. The ionic liquids were prepared by reaction of 1-methylimidazole with the alkyl halide or alkoxyalkyl halide to yield imidazolium halide salts. The halide salts were then converted to bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (NTf<sub>2</sub>) ILs. H-1 and C-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the structures of the ILs. SWNT-IL mixtures were prepared by grinding using a mortar and pestle followed by sonication. The temperature dependent conductivity, viscosity and the thermal profile of the pure ILs and SWNT-IL mixtures were measured and compared. Preliminarily, conductivity values greater than 5.0 mS/cm at 25 °C were obtained for SWNT-IL mixtures, showing that SWNTs have the ability to raise conductivity therefore making them promising electrolytes for use in electrochemical devices.

Ionic liquid-single-walled carbon nanotube based electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

256th National Meeting (2018)

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