D. Mao et al., A PLASTICIZED POLYMER-ELECTROLYTE-BASED PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL SOLAR-CELL, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 145(1), 1998, pp. 121-124
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Electrochemistry,"Materials Science, Coatings & Films
A photoelectrochemical solar cell based on an n-GaAs/polymer-redox-ele
ctrolyte junction is reported. Di(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether acrylate
containing ferrocene as a redox species and benzoin methyl ether as a
photoinitiator is polymerized in situ. Propylene carbonate is used as
a plasticizer to improve the conductivity of the polymer redox electr
olyte. For thin (1 mu m) polymer electrolytes, the series resistance o
f the cell is negligible. However, the short-circuit photocurrent dens
ity of the cell at light intensities above 10 mW/cm(2) is limited by m
ass transport of redox species within the polymer matrix. At a light i
ntensity of 70 mW/cm(2), a moderate light-to-electrical energy convers
ion efficiency (3.1%) is obtained. The interfacial charge-transfer pro
perties of the cell in the dark and under illumination are studied.