Influence of 2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid on the photovoltaic properties of a dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated using poly(vinylidene fluoride) blended with poly(ethylene oxide) polymer electrolyte

► 2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid (BNIN) has been synthesized through a simple and cost-effective method to produce good yield. ► For the first time, attempt is made to use the synthesized BNIN in PVdF–PEO based polymer electrolyte as a plasticizer. ► This enhanced the conductivity of polymer and increased the efficiency of DSSCs. ► The fabricated solar cell exhibited efficiency as high as 7.3%. ► This is comparatively higher than those of the present day DSSCs fabricated with Poly (vinylidine fluoride) polymer electrolyte. A novel method of introducing a synthesized organic nitrogenous compound 2,6 (N-pyrazolyl)isonicotinic acid (BNIN) and its effect on the conduction behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer-blend electrolyte with potassium iodide (KI) and iodine (I 2) and the corresponding performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were studied. A systematic investigation of the blends using FTIR provides evidence of interaction of BNIN with the polymer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study proves the miscibility of these polymers. Due to the coordinating and plasticizing effects of BNIN, the ionic conductivity of polymer blend electrolytes is enhanced. The efficiency of DSSC using BNIN doped polymer blend electrolyte was 7.3% under an illumination of 60 mW cm −2 were observed for the best performance of a solar cell in this work.