Photoelectrochemical Properties of $TiO_2$ Electrodes Prepared Using Chemical Functionalized Binders

Chemically functionalized plant oils such as acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and maleinized acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (MAESO) were used as new bio-based binders for $TiO_2$ electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). More porous networks and larger porosities were fabricated on the $TiO_2$ films using plant oil binders due to the larger number of functionalities, in comparison with the film using polyethylene glycol (PEG). The charge-transfer resistance in the $TiO_2$ films was considerably shrunk due to the reduced impurity states. The short circuit photocurrent (Isc) and the open circuit photovoltage (Voc) of the cell using plant oil binders increased and the conversion efficiency improved significantly.