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Abstract
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In this study, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) functionalized with ionic liquid (IL) were introduced as an efficient quasi-solidstate
hybrid electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The GQDs have been covalently functionalized with imidazolium-based
IL (GQDs-IL), and the resulted hybrid electrolyte has been characterized by FT-IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, XRD, fluorescence
spectroscopy, zeta potential and thermogravimetric analysis. The power conversion efficiency of the prepared electrolytes
from GQDs, IL and GQDs-IL under the simulated AM 1.5 solar spectrum irradiation at 100 mW cm−
2 in the fabricated
dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was found to be 2.24, 4.52 and 4.58% respectively. The short-circuit current density of
the DSSC with GQDs-IL-based electrolyte was calculated to be 19.57 mA cm−2 which was remarkably more than GQDs
and IL. According to Bode plots, the use of GQDs in the final electrolyte increased the electron life time and reduced the
recombination reaction to the redox couple due to the inhibition of the back-electron transfer to the electrolyte. Upon the
superior long-term stability and highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of the developed GQDs-IL electrolyte, the fabricated
DSSCs could overcome the drawbacks of volatile liquid electrolytes.
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