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Hydrogen sulphate-based ionic liquid-assisted electro-polymerization of PEDOT catalyst material for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical solar cells.

ABSTRACT: This work reports the facile, one-step electro-polymerization synthesis of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) using a 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate (EMIMHSO₄) ionic liquid (IL) and, for the first time its utilization as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Using the IL doped PEDOT as CE, we effectively improve the solar cell efficiency to as high as 8.52%, the highest efficiency reported in 150 mC/cm² charge capacity, an improvement of ~52% over the control device using the bare PEDOT CE (5.63%). Besides exhibiting good electrocatalytic stability, the highest efficiency reported for the PEDOT CE-based DSSCs using hydrogen sulphate [HSO₄]^- anion based ILs is also higher than platinum-(Pt)-based reference cells (7.87%). This outstanding performance is attributed to the enhanced charge mobility, reduced contact resistance, improved catalytic stability, smoother surface and well-adhesion. Our experimental analyses reveal that the [HSO₄]^- anion group of the IL bonds to the PEDOT, leading to higher electron mobility to balance the charge transport at the cathode, a better adhesion for high quality growth PEDOT CE on the substrates and superior catalytic stability. Consequently, the EMIMHSO₄-doped PEDOT can successfully act as an excellent alternative green catalyst material, replacing expensive Pt catalysts, to improve performance of DSSCs.

SUBMITTER: Carbas BB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5600988 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Hydrogen sulphate-based ionic liquid-assisted electro-polymerization of PEDOT catalyst material for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical solar cells.

Carbas Buket Bezgin BB Gulen Mahir M Tolu Merve Celik MC Sonmezoglu Savas S

Scientific reports 20170915 1

This work reports the facile, one-step electro-polymerization synthesis of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) using a 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate (EMIMHSO<sub>4</sub>) ionic liquid (IL) and, for the first time its utilization as a counter electrode (CE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Using the IL doped PEDOT as CE, we effectively improve the solar cell efficiency to as high as 8.52%, the highest efficiency reported in 150 mC/cm<sup>2</sup> charge capacity, an imp ...[more]

PMID: 28916744

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Project description:Achieving global sustainability will require balancing encroaching climate changes while maintaining existing quality of life. Using sunlight to purify wastewater while simultaneously generating usable fuels is an opportunity to approach both targets in a cost-efficient manner. In addition, converting biomass products to usable polymers is a sustainable approach for potentially replacing polystyrene or other petroleum derived polymers. Phenols from medical, manufacturing, and agricultural waste are commonly found in many water sources, and they are known to foul common reverse osmosis membranes. Here, we show oxidative polymerization of guaiacol, an aromatic compound derived from biomass, with concurrent hydrogen gas generation by using platinum-seeded cadmium sulfide nanorods (Pt@CdS) as photocatalysts. Rather than forming short oligomers as typically made by enzymes such as laccase and peroxidase, the resulting polymers show higher molecular weights that can more easily flocculate out of water. By comparing guaiacol conversion to molecular weight and dispersity, the guaiacol was found to polymerize via a chain-growth process. We also show that Pt@CdS can polymerize other phenols as well by testing the monomers phenol, 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, and vanillin. Lastly, because the aqueous solubility of these aromatic polymers decreases dramatically with molecular weight, polymerization reactions were also tested in biphasic solutions to determine if chain growth could propagate in the oil phase. We show that the Pt@CdS nanoparticles can form stable Pickering emulsions in various biphasic combinations, and that both H2 formation and polymer molecular weight correlated with the partition coefficient of guaiacol into the oil phase as well as the solubility of the growing polymer chains. These combined studies demonstrate the possibility of using nanoscale photocatalysts to oxidatively polymerize phenolic substrates via a chain-growth mechanism, thereby providing a path for pretreating water by flocculating out contaminants with concurrent generation of hydrogen.

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Hydrogen sulphate-based ionic liquid-assisted electro-polymerization of PEDOT catalyst material for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical solar cells.

Publications

Hydrogen sulphate-based ionic liquid-assisted electro-polymerization of PEDOT catalyst material for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical solar cells.

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