Abstract

This study explores the enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by incor-porating nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl<inf>2</inf>6H<inf>2</inf>O) into poly(vinylidene fluoride hexafluo-ropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) nanofiber mats. The addition of NiCl<inf>2</inf>6H<inf>2</inf>O significantly improves the nanofiber morphology, leading to smoother, bead-free fibers with reduced diame-ters. Enhanced hydrophobicity is achieved through increased water contact angles and lower surface energy. Crystallinity and mechanical properties, including tensile stress and Young’s modulus, are also improved, though ductility is reduced. Optical properties benefit from ad-ditional absorbance features due to Ni²⁺ ions, while electrical conductivity increases, forming conductive pathways that facilitate electron transport. These modifications collectively sug-gest that NiCl<inf>2</inf>6H<inf>2</inf>O/P(VDF-HFP) composite nanofibers can substantially improve DSSC performance by offering superior mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and electrical con-ductivity.