Enhancing the stability and efficiency of eye-sensitized solar cells with MIL-125 metal-organic framework as an electrolyte additive

Ibrayeva A. Imanbekova Z. Abibulla U. Tashenov Y. Baptayev B. Balanay M.P.
December 2025 Nature Research

Scientific Reports
2025 #15 Issue 1

This study investigates how to improve the stability of liquid electrolyte (LE) dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by incorporating a titanium-based metal-organic framework (MIL-125). MIL-125, created through the coordination of Ti⁴⁺ ions with benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, forms a structure that can effectively accommodate I⁻/I₃⁻ electrolytes, resulting in a MIL-125@electrolyte assembly. This innovative assembly successfully prevents electrolyte leakage while preserving the LE properties. The study examines how the MIL-125@electrolyte enhances both stability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs. The inclusion of the large-surface-area of MIL-125 improves ionic conductivity, reduces charge transfer resistance, and stops leakage. The optimized MIL-125@electrolyte achieves a high PCE of 10.51%, with a peak value of 10.99%, and a notable short-circuit current density of 20.97 mA/cm², peaking at 22.27 mA/cm², under standard AM 1.5, 100 mW/cm² conditions. It maintains about 75% of its PCE after 1400 h at approximately 23 °C. For indoor applications using LED lighting, the quasi-solid-state DSSC reaches a record PCE of 27.6%, with an average of 25.9%, under 6000 lx illumination.

Dye-sensitized solar cells , Indoor photovoltaics , Metal-organic frameworks , MIL-125 , Quasi-solid-state electrolytes

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National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2 Satpayev St, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan
Chemistry Department, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

National Laboratory Astana
Department of Chemistry
Chemistry Department

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