Mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode with ionic liquid-based solid polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Thick mesoporous TiO ₂ films with excellent properties have been prepared for dye-sensitized solar cell application using doctor-blade method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) show the highly crystalline mesoporous anatase TiO ₂ framework. On the other hand new solid electrolytes based on ionic liquid (IL) 1-methyl 3-propyl imidazolium iodide (PMII) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were prepared in film form and placed on porous-sensitized TiO ₂ electrode following two-step casting technique. The doping of IL further provided large numbers of ions, resulting in the enhancement in conductivity and good solar cell performance.