Nanomaterials (Dec 2020)

Molecular Weight Effects of Biscarbazole-Based Hole Transport Polymers on the Performance of Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

  • Minseon Kong,
  • Kyeong Seok Kim,
  • Nguyen Van Nga,
  • Yeonju Lee,
  • Yu Seong Jeon,
  • Yunsung Cho,
  • Younghwan Kwon,
  • Yoon Soo Han

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10122516
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 12
p. 2516

Abstract

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The leakage and volatilization of liquid electrolytes limit the commercialization of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). As solid-state (ss) hole-transporting materials, free from leakage and volatilization, biscarbazole-based polymers with different molecular weights (PBCzA-H (21,200 g/mol) and PBCzA-L (2450 g/mol)) were applied in combination with additives to produce ssDSCs. An ssDSC with PBCzA-H showed a better short-circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) than a device with PBCzA-L, resulting in 38% higher conversion efficiency. Compared to the PBCzA-L, the PBCzA-H with a higher molecular weight showed faster hole mobility and larger conductivity, leading to elevations in Jsc via rapid hole transport, Voc via rapid hole extraction, and FF via lowered series and elevated shunt resistances. Thus, it is believed that PBCzA-H is a useful candidate for replacing liquid electrolytes.

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