Synthesis and Characterization of PEMA-CNT-Based Polymer Electrolyte Nanocomposite and Its Application in DSSC

Abstract

The conductivity and structural properties of poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA)-based plasticized electrolytes are modified by adding carbon nanotubes (CNT) as nanoparticle. The PEMA + KI (40% wt) and EC (60% wt) have maximum conductivity of 4.65×10⁻⁵ S/cm using solution casting technique. CNT is dissolved into this maximum conducting sample. On addition of 9% wt of CNT, we obtained maximum ionic conductivity of 3.5×10⁻⁴ S/cm. The morphology of the conductive sample is investigated using SEM technique, amorphicity is studied by FTIR technique, and a comparison of crystalline structure between maximum conducting samples of PEMA + KI + EC and PEMA + KI + EC + CNT is done by XRD technique to identify polymer composite's amorphous nature. DSSC is prepared using doctor blade method using maximum conducting sample, and it is observed that energy conversion efficiency is 2.27% at 1 sun condition with open circuit voltage of 0.6887 V, short circuit current density 3.88 A/cm², and fill factor 81.11%.