• ETRI Journal
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.647-652
• /
• 2004

A new ionic liquid, 1-vinyl-3-heptylimidazolium iodide (VHpII), was synthesized and applied as a redox electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. The chemical structure of the synthesized VHpII was confirmed using $^1H$ NMR. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the VHpII was stable for thermal stress of up to $250^{\circ}C$. The energy conversion efficiencies of the VHpII-based dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated in terms of the effect of a lithium iodide addition. A solar cell containing the redox couple of VHpII and iodine showed a conversion efficiency of 2.63% under 1 sun light intensity at AM 1.5. Adding 0.4 M LiI results in a conversion efficiency of 3.63%, which was an improvement of about 40%. The increased conversion efficiency was ascribed to an increase in external quantum efficiency.