Abstract
Poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (PEGDME)/fumed silica/ 1-methyl -3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII)/$I_2$ mixtures were used as polymer electrolytes in solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The contents of MPII were changed and the concentration of $I_2$ was fixed at 0.1 mole% with respect to the MPII. The maximum ionic conductivity was obtained at [EG]:[MPII]:[$I_2$]=10:1.5:0.15. It was supposed that the maximum of ionic conductivities would match with that of cell efficiencies, if the ionic conductivity is a rate determining step in the sol id state DSSCs. However, the maximum composition did not show the maximum solar cell performance, indicating the mismatch between ionic conductivity and cell performance. This suggests that the ionic conductivity may not be the rate controlling step in determining the cell efficiency in these experimental conditions, whereas other parameters such as the electron recombination might play an important role. Thus, we tried to modify the surface of the $TiO_2$ particles by coating a thin metal oxide such as $Al_2O_3$ or $Nb_2O_5$ layer to prevent electron recombination. As a result, the maximum of the cell efficiency was shifted to that of the ionic conductivity. The peak shifts were also attempted to be explained by the diffusion coefficient and the lifetime of electrons in the $TiO_2$ layer.