The development of poly(ethylene oxide) reinforced with a nanocellulose-based nanocomposite polymer electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells

Here, we describe a nanocomposite polymer electrolyte prepared using a solution casting technique. Polyethylene oxide (PEO), lithium iodide (LI), and nanocellulose (NCC) extracted from palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB) were used to prepare electrolyte films. The structural and electrical behaviors of the prepared films were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. At room temperature, the device impregnated with 0.6 wt% NCC showed the optimum ionic conductivity of (1.03 ± 0.5) × 10−3 S cm−1. Complexation between the PEO polymer, lithium iodide, and NCC was confirmed from infrared spectroscopy data and the XRD patterns of the nanocomposite polymer electrolytes. A photovoltaic response efficiency of 2.12% was achieved using the highest-conducting film in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), and this showed the film to be suitable for DSSC applications.