Modified Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Based Polymer Electrolyte for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

Abstract Due to increasing energy demand day by day, it must be necessary to have an alternate source of energy beside natural resources. Sun is the ultimate source of solar energy. So, from this solar energy, various types of solar cells are fabricated easily which are available in markets but these are somewhat costly. So, there is requirement of a low‐cost alternative to costly crystalline solar cells, which is fulfilled by dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Due to many potential properties like good ionic conductivity, thin film forming ability and many more, polymer electrolyte plays a vital role in improving the efficiency of DSSC which cannot be obtained by using volatile liquid electrolytes which are used earlier. The reliance of DSSCs on liquid electrolytes imposes a limit and restriction on the manufacture of DSSC modules. Liquid electrolyte faces many problems like corrosion, leakage, and evaporation. When the photoanode comes into touch with the volatilized redox‐electrolytes solution, the charge distribution at the semiconductor–electrolyte interface changes, resulting in photo corrosion on the photoelectrode. Furthermore, electron recombination at semiconductor–liquid electrolytes interfaces is discovered to cause performance losses. The concept of ionic conductivity observed in polymer materials when complexed with salt is a significant step forward in the development of DSSC devices. In this review, the fabrication of DSSC using polymer electrolyte, specifically PVA based solid polymer electrolyte is discussed. Here solid polymer electrolytes are of special interest due to thin film forming ability and overall good performance. Due to inherent properties like cost‐effectiveness, better tensile strength, and high hydrophilicity, PVA is chosen as a novel applicant for host polymer. The recent advancement of DSSC using modified PVA polymer electrolyte by incorporation of nanosized fillers, plasticizers, polymer blend, by the formation of conducting polymer electrolyte are discussed in detail. The improvement in ionic conductivity and enhanced efficiency of DSSC by using above mentioned factors are also discussed.