Development of a conjugated polyaniline incorporated electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) composite membrane electrolyte for high performance dye‐sensitized solar cells. Issue 45 (21st August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elayappan, Vijayakumar; Murugadoss, Vignesh; Angaiah, Subramania; Fei, Zhaofu; Dyson, Paul J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 132:Issue 45(2015)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2015-08-21
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.42777
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>Different weight percentage (2, 3, 4, and 5 wt %) of polyaniline (PANI) were incorporated into electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride‐<italic>co</italic>‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP) composite membranes (esCPMs). The regular morphology, molecular structure, crystallinity, porosity, electrolyte uptake, and leakage of the composite membranes were examined. The esCPMs were activated in liquid electrolyte containing 0.5 M LiI, 0.05 M I₂, and 0.5 M 4‐<italic>tert‐</italic>butylpyridine and 0.5 M 1‐<italic>butyl</italic>‐3‐methylimidazoliun iodide in acetonitrile to afford electrospun PVdF‐HFP/PANI composite membrane electrolytes (esCPMEs). The influence of different wt % of PANI on the esCPMEs was studied by electrochemical impedance measurements and Tafel polarization studies. The photovoltaic performance of a dye‐sensitized solar cell assembled using 3 wt % PANI incorporated esCPME exhibits a higher power conversion efficiency of 7.20% than that assembled using esPME (η = 6.42%). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. <bold>2015</bold>, <italic>132</italic>, 42777.</p> </abstract>