Dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells employing a polymer electrolyte

Effective cationic dye sensitized nanocrystalline titania solar cells emplo ying an elastomeric copolymer of ethylene glycol and epichlorohydrin as ele ctrolyte and I-/I-3(-) as mobile redox carrier system have been developed b y these authors. The key feature of the copolymer is its ability to penetra te the pores of the TiO2 film in spite of its high molecular weight. Unseal ed prototype cells show 1.6-2.6% energy conversion efficiency, thus demonst rating that polymer electrolytes are an attractive alternative to previousl y reported hole-transporting materials.