Choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents as effective electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells was written by Nguyen, De;Van Huynh, Tuan;Nguyen, Vinh Son;Doan Cao, Phuong-Lien;Nguyen, Hai Truong;Wei, Tzu-Chien;Tran, Phuong Hoang;Nguyen, Phuong Tuyet. And the article was included in RSC Advances in 2021.COA of Formula: C8H8N2 This article mentions the following:
Electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells remain a challenge for large-scale production and commercialization, hindering the wide application of solar cells. We have developed two new electrolyte-based deep eutectic solvents using a mixture of choline chloride with urea and with ethylene glycol for dye-sensitized solar cells. The prominent features of the two deep eutectic solvent electrolytes are simple preparation for large-scale production with inexpensive, available, and nontoxic starting materials and biodegradability. The solar cell devices proceeded in a safe manner as the two deep eutectic solvents afforded low-cost technol. and comparative conversion efficiency to a popular ionic liquid, namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate. Results showed that devices with choline chloride and urea electrolyte exhibited improved open circuit voltage values (VOC), while the ones with choline chloride and ethylene glycol showed an increase in the short circuit current (Isc). Characterization of the devices by electrochem. impedance spectroscopy helped explain the effects of their mol. structures on the enhancement of either VOC or Isc values. These new solvents expand the electrolyte choices for designing dye-sensitized solar cells, especially for the purpose of using low-cost and eco-friendly materials for massive production In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, 1-Methylbenzimidazole (cas: 1632-83-3COA of Formula: C8H8N2).
1-Methylbenzimidazole (cas: 1632-83-3) belongs to imidazole derivatives. Imidazole is the basic core of some natural products such as histidine, purine, histamine and DNA based structures, etc. Among the different heterocyclic compounds, imidazole is better known due to its broad range of chemical and biological properties. Imidazole is incorporated into many important biological compounds. The most pervasive is the amino acid histidine, which has an imidazole side-chain. Histidine is present in many proteins and enzymes, e.g. by binding metal cofactors, as seen in hemoglobin.COA of Formula: C8H8N2
Referemce:
Imidazole – Wikipedia,
Imidazole | C3H4N2 – PubChem