Elucidating the mixing effect of dual polymers via physical blending on its physicochemical, thermal and electrical properties for dye-sensitized solar cells

Blending two different polymers through a physical blending is a wise alternative to create a new polymer with desired properties showing a synergistic effect of the individual polymers. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly (1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) P(VP-co-VAc) were blended in a fixed amount of binary organic solvent of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate. The weight ratios were varied to 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 wt%, respectively. Polymer electrolytes in a gel and solid form are safer than liquid ones. Thus 50:50PP and 70:30PP samples were selected and incorporated with iodide/triiodide redox mediators such as sodium iodide salt, 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) ionic liquid and iodine for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) application. Polymer electrolytes containing 50 wt.% of both PAN and P(VP-co-VAc) with iodide/triiodide redox mediator (50:50PP-IL) has achieved maximum ionic conductivity, short-circuit (JSC) current and power con -version efficiency (PCE, eta) of 6.10 x 10-3 S cm-1, 11.1 mA cm- 1 and 5.35%, respectively.

Automated summary

Blending two different polymers through physical blending creates a new polymer with desired properties and shows a synergistic effect. This study blended polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly (1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) P(VP-co-VAc) in a binary organic solvent. The resulting polymer electrolytes, in gel and solid form, were incorporated with iodide/triiodide redox mediators for DSSC application. The 50:50PP polymer electrolyte achieved the highest ionic conductivity, short-circuit current, and power conversion efficiency.