Gel electrolytes with polyamidopyridine-dendron modified-talc for dye-sensitized solar cells

Organic-inorganic hybrid layered materials are proposed as additives in a quasi-solid gel electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. Talcs could provide a low cost, environmentally friendly as well as abundant option as gelators. Here, talcs were prepared by functionalizing an organotalc with three polyamidopyridine dendron generations, PAMPy-talc-Gn (n = 1, 2 and 3). PAMPy dendron grows parallel to the lamellae plane and forms an organized structure by intermolecular interactions. In addition, polyiodide-dendron charge-transfer complexes were prepared onto the organotalc by adsorption of iodine. In this work, the effect of the dendron generation of PAMPy-talc and the influence of polyiodide intercalation on solar cell performance and stability were investigated. The best results were reached with the use of lowest generation PAMPy-talc (η = 4.5 ± 0.3 %, VOC = 710 ± 19 mV, Jsc = 10.4 ± 0.9 mA cm-2and FF= 61 ± 2 %): 15 % higher efficiency compared to similar liquid devices. While some previously studied talcs illustrate very strong absorption of the iodide from the electrolyte, in the case of PAMPy-talc such interfering effects were absent: In a 1000-h light soaking test, the PAMPy-talc cells both with and without polyiodide intercalation demonstrated stable performances. Furthermore, the color analysis of the electrolyte indicated that the color of the electrolyte remained stable after an initial period of stabilization, which is a good indication of the compound being stable and not absorbing charge carriers from the electrolyte. The performance and stability results indicate that PAMPy-talc has potential as a gelling method of electrolyte for dye solar cells.