Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells assembled by in-situ chemical cross-linking at ambient temperature

Cross-linked gel polymer electrolytes containing aluminum oxide nanoparticles are successfully prepared using in-situ chemical cross-linking at room temperature after injection of the gel precursor into a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). This makes it possible to directly solidify the electrolyte in the cell without leakage of solvent and to maintain close interfacial contact with the porous TiO(2) electrode. The quasi-solid-state DSSC assembled with gel polymer electrolyte containing 20 wt.% Al(2)O(3) particles yields an overall conversion efficiency of 5.25% under AM 1.5 illumination at 100 mW cm(-2). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.