Effect of Hydroquinone Dderivatives in Electrolytes on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Yazd University, Yazd 89195-741, Iran

10.7508/jns.2014.01.005

Abstract

New kinds of hydroquinone derivatives were synthesized and along with a azo dye applied as additives in the iodide/iodine redox electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells and their effect on the short-circuit photocurrent of dye sensitized solar cells was investigated. Addition of 0.05 M a hydroquinone derivative in the electrolyte comprising 0.5 M 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) and 0.05 M I2 in a mixture of acetonitrile and valeronitrile (volume ratio, 85:15) enhanced significantly photocurrent density from 11.1 to 12.8 mA/cm2, and voltage increased from 0.66 to 0.68 V. As a result, overall conversion efficiency increased from 4.4% to 4.8%, corresponding to increment of 10.9%.

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