Seawater-based electrolytes facilitate charge transfer mechanisms improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

In this work, dye-sensitized solar cells containing seawater-based electrolytes were realized and investigated. The influence of the seawater composition on the electrochemical properties of the iodide/triiodide redox mediator was determined. High triiodide diffusion coefficient and ionic conductivity were assessed for seawater electrolytes through cyclic and linear voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Moreover, a notable influence of the seawater electrolyte on the charge transfer mechanism at the photoanode/dye/electrolyte interfaces was observed and deeply discussed. The ions, naturally present into seawater, reduce the charge recombination mechanism at the photoanode/electrolyte interface and promote a downward shift of the TiO conduction band, thus increasing the final DSSC efficiencies of 23% if compared with traditional devices containing water. The best seawater-based solar cell provides a photo-electrical conversion efficiency equal to 0.37% with 1.09 mA cm as short circuit current density. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that seawater is used as a key component for an energy production technology and the obtained results show the great potentiality of this green and recyclable element.