Optoelectronic performance of Jatropha oil-derived poly(ethyl carbamate) gel polymer electrolyte as quasi-solid-state solution for photoelectrochemical cells

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 30; no. 9; pp. 5623 - 5637
• Main Authors: Chai, K. L., Noor, I. M., Lee, Tian Khoon, Su’ait, M. S., Ahmad, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-09-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biopolymers; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Current carriers; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy Storage; Ethyl carbamate; Ion currents; Open circuit voltage; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optoelectronic devices; Photodiodes; Photoelectrochemical devices; Polymers; Renewable and Green Energy; Short circuit currents; Solid state; Poly(ethyl carbamate); Gel polymer electrolyte; Energy; Photoelectrochemical cells; Energy conversion
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-024-05682-3

A biopolymer derived from
Jatropha
oil-based poly(ethyl carbamate) (PUA) has been used as gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) in optoelectronic devices and photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) as photodiode devices. The quasi-solid-state photodiode device was characterized through photo current–voltage analysis, photogenerated charge carrier dynamic analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, and voltammetry analysis. Sample A2 biopolymer electrolyte (95 wt.% PUA, 5 wt.% LiI, 5 wt.% I
2
) revealed the highest ionic conductivity (2.34 ± 0.01) × 10
−4
S cm
−1
and power conversion efficiency (5.09 ± 0.23) %, along with the highest short-circuit current density (17.80 ± 0.41) mA cm
−2
, open-circuit voltage (0.52 ± 0.01) V, and fill factor (0.55 ± 0.04). respectively. Moreover, sample A2 biopolymer electrolyte featuring a triiodide ion diffusivity of 1.82 × 10
−8
cm
2
 s
−1
demonstrated electrochemical stability up to 2.1 V and remained functional for a duration of 2000 cycles. The charge dynamic mechanism in the PEC proved that sample A2 biopolymer electrolyte recorded lowest values of
R
s
,
R
pt
,
R
ct
, and
R
d
of (18.60 ± 0.01) Ω, (1.20 ± 0.01) Ω, (10.0 ± 0.01) Ω, and (11.50 ± 0.01) Ω, respectively.