Influence of calamitic liquid crystal additives on electrolyte behavior in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of two calamitic liquid crystals exhibiting distinct mesophase structures (nematic LC1 and chiral smectic C* LC2) as functional additives in a commercial iodide/triiodide electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Rather than targeting state-of-the-art efficiencies, the objective is to evaluate relative performance variations induced by mesophase-dependent electrolyte modulation under identical fabrication conditions. Concentration dependent photovoltaic measurements reveal systematic performance changes associated with LC incorporation. The results suggest a possible structure performance correlation related to liquid crystal molecular ordering within the electrolyte medium.