Xanthan‐Based Hydrogel for Stable and Efficient Quasi‐Solid Truly Aqueous Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell with Cobalt Mediator
Simone Galliano, Federico Bella, Matteo Bonomo, Fabrizio Giordano, Michaël Grätzel, Guido Viscardi, Anders Hagfeldt, Claudio Gerbaldi, Claudia Barolo
Abstract
Aqueous dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are emerging as a promising alternative to enhance both the lifetime and environmental friendliness of traditional DSSCs. Herein, a cobalt‐based, jellified (with xanthan gum) aqueous electrolyte, leading to a valuable efficiency exceeding 4% ( V OC = 847 mV, J SC = 6.73 mA cm −2 , fill factor = 74%), is reported. Design of experiment is used to precisely and significantly study, at a multivariate level, the effects produced by the Co 2+ concentration, Co 2+ /Co 3+ ratio, and xanthan gum amount modifications on the overall photovoltaic parameters of lab‐scale solar cells.