Synthesis, characterization, and dye-sensitized solar cell fabrication using solid biopolymer electrolyte membranes

Abstract

Solid biopolymer-based electrolytes have been synthesized and characterized. Potassium iodide (KI) and iodine have been added in a biopolymer (sago palm) matrix to develop solid polymer electrolyte. Relationships between electrical and ionic transport parameters have been studied in detail, and the mechanism for ion transport has been proposed. Impedance spectroscopy reveals a significant enhancement in ionic conductivity by salt doping and the conductivity maxima was obtained at 50 wt% of KI concentration and also the system displays Arrhenius behavior. Dielectric phenomenon, mobility, charge carrier density, and diffusion coefficient also supports the conductivity data. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the formation of a complex structure, while X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy affirms the complex structure as well as a reduction of crystallinity in the biopolymer electrolyte by salt doping. A dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using fluorine-doped tin oxide–titanium dioxide (N3 dye)/maximum conducting electrolyte showed the short-circuit current density of 2.91 × 10−4 A cm−2, open-circuit voltage of 0.58 V, and efficiency of 0.57% at 1 sun condition.