Molecules (Jun 2023)

Stable and Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Supercapacitors Developed Using Ionic-Liquid-Doped Biopolymer Electrolytes

  • Subhrajit Konwar,
  • Diksha Singh,
  • Karol Strzałkowski,
  • Mohamad Najmi Bin Masri,
  • Muhd Zu Azhan Yahya,
  • Markus Diantoro,
  • Serguei V. Savilov,
  • Pramod K. Singh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135099
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 13
p. 5099

Abstract

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An ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl, 2-methyl imidazolium thiocyanate incorporated biopolymer system is reported in this communication for applications in dual energy devices, i.e., electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The solution caste method has been used to synthesize ionic-liquid-incorporated biopolymer electrolyte films. The IL mixed biopolymer electrolytes achieve high ionic conductivity up to the order of 10−3 S/cm with good thermal stability above 250 °C. Electrical, structural, and optical studies of these IL-doped biopolymer electrolyte films are presented in detail. The performance of EDLCs was evaluated using low-frequency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and constant current charge–discharge, while that of DSSCs was assessed using J–V characteristics. The EDLC cells exhibited a high specific capacitance of 200 F/gram, while DSSCs delivered 1.53% efficiency under sun conditions.

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