Gel electrolyte composition, method of fabricating thereof and dye-sensitized solar cell using the same

1. A gel electrolyte composition, comprising:

(a) a substituted or unsubstituted pyridine of Formula (1):

wherein R 1 to R 5 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxymethyl, vinyl or hydroxyl;

(b) a metal salt of the following formula: MY, wherein M is an alkali group (IA) metal cation, and Y is a halogen anion;

(c) a halogen molecule;

(d) a substituted or unsubstituted nicotinic acid, represented by one of the following Formula (2):

wherein R 6 to R 9 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyl, amino, trifluoromethyl or halogen, R 10 is a C n H 2n+1 alkyl, wherein n is 1 to 12, X is an iodide ion, a bromide ion, ClO 4 − , CF 3 SO 3 − , SCN − , PF 6 − or BF 4 − ; and

(e) a solvent,

wherein said composition is optionally free from or substantially free from one or more of a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.

2. The gel electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein a content of the substituted or unsubstituted pyridine is about 0.3 M to 1.2 M (mole/liter), a content of the metal salt MY is about 0.05 M to 0.2 M (mole/liter), a content of the halogen molecule is about 0.03 M to 1.0 M (mole/liter), and a content of the substituted or unsubstituted nicotinic acid is about 0.3 M to 1.0 M (mole/liter).

3. The gel electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein (1) the metal salt MY is a metal iodide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine, or (2) the metal salt is a bromide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine.

4. The gel electrolyte composition of claim 1 , further comprising guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN).

5. The gel electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is substantially free from a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.

6. A dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:

a working electrode;

a counter electrode, disposed corresponding to the working electrode; and

the gel electrolyte composition of claim 1 , disposed between the working electrode and the counter electrode.

7. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 6 , wherein (1) the metal salt is a metal iodide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine, or (2) the metal salt is a bromide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine.

8. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the counter electrode comprises a transparent conductive substrate plated with platinum.

9. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 6 , wherein the working electrode comprises:

a transparent conductive substrate; and

a metal oxide thin film formed on a surface of the transparent conductive substrate, wherein the metal oxide thin film comprises a dye.

10. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the dye comprises a metal complex comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, iron, illinium, platinum and zinc.

11. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the dye comprises a non-metal organic compound.

12. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the metal oxide thin film comprises TiO 2 , ZnO, Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 or Ti x Al y O z , wherein x=1-3, y=1-3, and z=1-6.

13. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 9 , wherein the transparent conductive substrate comprises glass, plastic or metal.

14. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 6 , wherein said composition is free from or substantially free from a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.

15. A method for preparing a gel electrolyte composition comprising:

(a) a substituted or unsubstituted pyridine of Formula (1):

wherein R 1 to R 5 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxymethyl, vinyl or hydroxyl;

(b) a metal salt of the following formula: MY, wherein M is an alkali group (IA) metal cation, and Y is a halogen anion;

(c) a halogen molecule;

(d) a substituted or unsubstituted nicotinic acid, represented by one of the following Formula (2):

wherein R 6 to R 9 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyl, amino, trifluoromethyl or halogen, R 10 is a C n H 2n+1 alkyl, wherein n is 1 to 12, X is an iodide ion, a bromide ion, ClO 4 − , CF 3 SO 3 − , SCN − , PF 6 − or BF 4 − ; and

(e) a solvent,

wherein said composition is optionally free from or substantially free from one or more of a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent, the method comprising:

dissolving the substituted or unsubstituted nicotinic acid and the halogen molecule in the solvent to form a first solution;

adding the metal salt MY into the first solution;

adding the substituted or unsubstituted pyridine into the first solution to form a second solution; and

stirring the second solution to gel the second solution and form the gel electrolyte composition.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein (1) the metal salt MY is a metal iodide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine, or (2) the metal salt is a metal bromide salt and the halogen molecule is molecular iodine.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said composition is free from or substantially free from a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.

18. A gel electrolyte composition prepared by mixing the following ingredients:

(a) a substituted or unsubstituted pyridine of Formula (1):

wherein R 1 to R 5 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxymethyl, vinyl or hydroxyl;

(b) a metal salt of the following formula: MY, wherein M is an alkali group (IA) metal cation, and Y is a halogen anion;

(c) a halogen molecule;

(d) a substituted or unsubstituted nicotinic acid, represented by one of the following Formula (2):

wherein R 6 to R 9 are the same or different, and independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyl, amino, trifluoromethyl or halogen, R 10 is a C n H 2n+1 alkyl, wherein n is 1 to 12, X is an iodide ion, a bromide ion, ClO 4 − , CF 3 SO 3 − , SCN − , PF 6 − or BF 4 − ; and

(e) a solvent,

wherein said composition is optionally free from or substantially free from one or more of a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.

19. The gel electrolyte composition of claim 18 , wherein said composition is substantially free from a polymer and a low molecular gelling agent.