Synthesis, characterization, and dye-sensitized solar cell fabrication using potato starch- and potato starch nanocrystal-based gel electrolytes

Potato starch (PS) and potato starch nanocrystals (PSN) were synthesized and characterized. The crystallinity of PS and PSN was studied by using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Thermal properties of PS and their corresponding nanocrystal (PSN) were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). PS and PSN were used to prepare gel polymer electrolytes. Potato starch gel electrolyte (PSGE) and potato starch nanocrystal gel electrolytes (PSNGE) were prepared using low cost, environmental friendly solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Impedance spectroscopy was carried out to determine the ionic conductivity of the PSGE and PSNGEs. PSNGE shows the optimal higher conductivity of 0.38 x 10(-8)S/cm compared with PSGE electrolyte (0.29 x 10(-8) S/cm). PSGE and PSNGE were used as electrolytes for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). PSNGE-based DSSC show higher conversion efficiency of 3.33% compared with PSGE-based DSSC (2.94%).