High performance polyvinyl alcohol/multi walled carbon nanotube/polyaniline hydrogel (PVA/MWCNT/PAni) based dye sensitized solar cells

PVA/MWCNT/PAni based hydrogel was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the mixture of PVA and MWCNT. The PVA/MWCNT/PAni based dye sensitized solar cell (DSSCs) was fabricated by sandwiching the gel electrolyte I-/I-3(-) between FTO glass and platinum (Pt) electrodes. Gel electrolyte was characterized by FUR, Cyclic Voltameter (C-V), SEM and Impedance Spectroscopy. The combined network of electrical charge transfer pathway between MWCNT and gel electrolyte is competent enough for effective charge transportation to respective electrodes. Effect of MWCNT content on device performance has been studied. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy illustrates that the introduction of MWCNT into hydrogel enhances the electrical property by facilitating the charge transfer of electrolytes. The maximum energy conversion efficiency was achieved 2.18% at 0.75% MWCNT content. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.