Poly(ionic liquid)s for dye-sensitized solar cells: A mini-review

[Display omitted] Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is one of the third generation solar cells converting solar light into electricity that attracted a remarkable research interest globally due to their simple device fabrication processes in ambient conditions and reasonable cell efficiency for commercialization; moreover, the advantages on colorfulness, possible plasticity, and high conversion efficiencies under indoor illumination also render DSSC to play a crucial role in energy-harvesting systems for green buildings. To eliminate the electrolyte leakage issues in traditional DSSCs (i.e., cells with organic solvent-based electrolytes), new class of ionic liquids, namely poly(ionic liquid)s, are recently investigated and used as the quasi/all–solid state electrolyte to improve the cell durability. Herein, we give a short review on the poly(ionic liquid)s to be used as the quasi/all–solid state electrolytes in DSSCs. Finally, the future perspectives for the development of poly(ionic liquid)s for DSSCs are also briefly discussed.