P(MMA-EMA) Random Copolymer Electrolytes Incorporating Sodium Iodide for Potential Application in a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Polymers

Nurul Akmaliah Dzulkurnain²  Azizan Ahmad³  Nor Sabirin Mohamed¹ 

[1] Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; E-Mail:;School of Chemistry Science and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; E-Mail:

关键词: ionic conductivity;    polymer electrolyte;    transference number;    electrochemical stability;    dye-sensitized solar cell;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym7020266

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Polymer electrolytes based on 90 wt% of methyl methacrylate and 10 wt% of ethyl methacrylate (90MMA-co-10EMA) incorporating different weight ratios of sodium iodide were prepared using the solution casting method. The complexation between salt and copolymer host has been investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity and thermal stability of the electrolytes were measured using impedance spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the polymer electrolytes. The ionic conductivity and glass transition temperature increased up to 20 wt% of sodium iodide (5.19 × 10⁻⁶ S·cm⁻¹) and decreased with the further addition of salt concentration, because of the crosslinked effect. The morphology behavior of the highest conducting sample also showed smaller pores compared to the other concentration. The total ionic transference number proved that this system was mainly due to ions, and the electrochemical stability window was up to 2.5 V, which is suitable for a dye-sensitized solar cell application. This sample was then tested in a dye-sensitized solar cell and exhibited an efficiency of 0.62%.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.