Gel-type polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cell and dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the same

• US 9,039,919 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SungKyunKwan University's Research & Business Foundation (SungKyunKwan University)
• Original Assignee: SungKyunKwan University's Research & Business Foundation (SungKyunKwan University)
• Inventors: Park, Jong Hyeok, Lee, Kun Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Koslow, Carol M
• Application Number:
  US13/855,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20130330873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 252/62.2, 429/303, 429/326, 429/339, 136/252
• US Class Current: 252/62.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2009 Solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2013 the electrolyte comprising ionic liquids, e.g. alkyl imidazolium iodide
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2018 characterised by the ionic charge transport species, e.g. redox shuttles
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2059 comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the gel-type polymer electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell.

Claims

1. A gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, formed from a gelation of a polymer colloid by an electrolytic solution that comprises an organic solvent that includes a nitrile-based solvent.

2. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1, wherein the polymer colloid includes one selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVDF, PAN, PEO, and their combinations.

3. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1,

wherein the nitrile-based solvent includes one selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, t-butyl cyanide, valeronitrile, caprylonitrile, heptanenitrile, cyclopentane carbonitrile, cyclohexane carbonitrile, 2-fluorobenzonitrile, 4-fluorobenzonitrile, difluorobenzonitrile, trifluorobenzonitrile, 2-chlorobenzonitrile, 4-chlorobenzonitrile, dichlorobenzonitrile, trichlorobenzonitrile, 2-chloro-4-fluorobenzonitrile, 4-chloro-2-fluorobenzonitrile, phenylacetonitrile, 2-fluorophenylacetonitrile, 4-fluorophenylacetonitrile, and their combinations.

4. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1,

wherein the organic solvent includes a mixture of acetonitrile and valeronitrile.

5. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1,

wherein the polymer colloid is from 0.1 to 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the gel-type polymer electrolyte.

6. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1,

wherein the organic solvent is from 1 to 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the gel-type polymer electrolyte.

7. A manufacturing method of a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:

forming a polymer colloid layer on a counter electrode;

forming a semiconductor electrode on the polymer colloid layer; and

injecting a electrolytic solution into the polymer colloid layer to form the gel-type polymer electrolyte of claim 1,

wherein the electrolytic solution includes a nitrile-based solvent.

8. The manufacturing method of a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 7,

wherein the polymer colloid includes one selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVDF, PAN, PEO, and their combinations.

9. The manufacturing method of a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 7,

wherein the nitrile-based solvent includes one selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, t-butyl cyanide, valeronitrile, caprylonitrile, heptanenitrile, cyclopentane carbonitrile, cyclohexane carbonitrile, 2-fluorobenzonitrile, 4-fluorobenzonitrile, difluorobenzonitrile, trifluorobenzonitrile, 2-chlorobenzonitrile, 4-chlorobenzonitrile, dichlorobenzonitrile, trichlorobenzonitrile, 2-chloro-4-fluorobenzonitrile, 4-chloro-2-fluorobenzonitrile, phenylacetonitrile, 2-fluorophenylacetonitrile, 4-fluorophenylacetonitrile, and their combinations.

10. The manufacturing method of a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 7, wherein the polymer colloid is coated on the counter electrode by spin coating.

11. A dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a gel-type polymer electrolyte of claim 1.

12. The gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1,

wherein the polymer colloid has a diameter in a range of from about 10 nm to about 500 nm.