Tuning the efficiency of KBr/PVA solid polymer electrolyte based dye-sensitized solar cell using electron irradiation

Effect of 10 MeV Electron irradiation on Dye-Sensitized Solar cell Efficiency based on KBr/PVA Solid Polymer Electrolyte (SPE) was studied using various techniques. Raman and XPS studies reveals that the irradiation affects the micro-structure/surface chemistry and is attributed to the crosslinking, chain scission, the free radical formation and carbonization induced by irradiation within the samples. The FESEM and AFM studies shows the evolution of elevated square stage like structure and results into amorphization of the SPE at a higher irradiation dose. These structural modifications are reflected in the form of enhancement of dielectric and conductivity properties of the SPE with irradiation dose. These results suggests that the irradiation creates the complexes within the sample and forms hydrogen depleted carbon network within the polymeric matrix. As a result of this modification the electrical conductivity increases with irradiation dose and the maximum conductivity of 3.42 × 10^–2 S/cm is observed for 300 kGy at 373 K temperature. The electrical measurements suggests that the modified conductivity results follows Jonscher’s power law for all the samples. Using the pristine and 300 kGy dose irradiated SPE samples the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was fabricated and the efficiency of the same was studied.