In situ Photopolymerization of a Gel Ionic Liquid Electrolyte in the Presence of Iodine and Its Use in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

We report for the first time an in situ photopolymerization of model co-monomers, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and tetra (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (TEGDA), in an IL electrolyte containing I-2 for DSSCs. TiO2 nanoparticles were used as the photo-initiator and cogelator in a charge transfer polymerization reaction. The gel-IL polymer obtained was characterized in terms of the diffusion properties of the electrolyte. Preliminary results from DSSCs assembled using the gel-IL electrolyte showed energy conversion efficiency of 3.9% at 1 sun (AM1.5) and 5.0% at 0.39 sun illumination.