JP2005346969A - Dye-sensitized solar cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dye-sensitized solar cell having high reproducibility and stable performance. <P>SOLUTION: The dye-sensitized solar cell 1 has a dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 installed on a first conductive substrate 2 formed by installing a transparent conductive film on a transparent substrate 3 facing with a second conductive substrate 6, and an electrolyte 11 is sealed in a gap 10 formed between the facing surfaces, or a gap keeping material 12 is installed between the facing surfaces. The gap keeping material 12 is almost in a plate shape having honeycomb structure and interposed between the facing surfaces. The gap keeping material 12 does not repel the electrolyte 11 and is formed of an insulating material having conductivity or a conductive film formed on one surface. The size in the height direction of the gap keeping material 12 is made larger than that in height directions of recessed and projecting parts on the facing surfaces. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a dye-sensitized solar cell that directly converts light energy into electric energy.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell announced by Gretzell et al. In 1991 operates by a mechanism different from that of a silicon semiconductor pn junction, has the advantage of high conversion efficiency and low manufacturing cost. Since the electrolytic solution is sealed inside, it is also called a dye-sensitized solar cell.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye-sensitized solar cell 21 includes a first conductive substrate portion 24 in which a transparent conductive film 23 is laminated on an upper surface portion of a transparent substrate 22. A dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25 formed by supporting a dye-sensitized dye is formed, and a second conductive substrate portion 28 in which a conductive film 27 is laminated on the lower surface portion of the substrate 26 is formed above the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25. The electrolytic solution 31 is contained in the gap 30 formed between the opposed surfaces of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25 and the conductive film 27, and the peripheral portion of the gap 30 is resinous. The sealing material 32 is applied and sealed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). In the dye-sensitized solar cell 21, the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25 is formed by coating a porous titanium oxide film with a sensitizing dye capable of efficiently absorbing sunlight such as a ruthenium complex. When light is applied to the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25, electrons excited by the light are injected into the titanium oxide and electricity can flow. In addition, this type of dye-sensitized solar cell requires an electrolyte for transferring electrons, and generally an iodine electrolyte is used.

Tsuyoshi Yoshida, et al. December 5, 2002 "What is" Rainbow Cell "?" [Online], Gifu University Film Type Dye Solar Cell "Rainbow Cell" Project, [Search May 25, 2004], Internet <URL: http: //apchem.gifu-u.ac.jp/~pcl/special/frame1.htm>

  However, in the conventional dye-sensitized solar cell 21 described above, in order to seal the electrolytic solution 31, a thick resin is applied to the peripheral portion of the gap 30 as a sealing material 32 and cured to form a bank. Only. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture the gap portion 30 in the height direction uniformly, and the gap portion 30 has a different height direction size for each dye-sensitized solar cell 21, or one dye sensitization. In the sensitive solar cell 21 as well, the size in the height direction of the gap 30 is often different depending on the location. For this reason, the amount of the electrolytic solution 31 differs for each individual dye-sensitized solar cell 21 and performance reproducibility becomes insufficient, or the electrolytic solution 31 cannot be sufficiently sealed, and the dye-sensitized solar cell When the battery 21 is tilted, there is a problem that the electrolyte solution 31 tends to flow to the outside, and the stability becomes insufficient.

  Further, the porous titanium oxide film forming the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25 differs in the shape and size of the unevenness formed on the surface depending on the coating method, the particle size and the thickness. If the portion contacts the conductive substrate 24 (or 28) on the opposite surface side or the other dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 25, the electrolyte solution 31 is not passed, and electrons cannot be exchanged or the power generation efficiency decreases. Or the performance becomes unstable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can control the shape, volume, and amount of an electrolytic solution of a gap formed on opposing surfaces such as two substrate portions. An object of the present invention is to provide a dye-sensitized solar cell having excellent reproducibility and stable performance by preventing or suppressing the flow of the electrolytic solution.

  The present invention relates to a structure of a dye-sensitized solar cell that directly converts light energy into electric energy. Specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a transparent conductive film on the upper surface of a transparent substrate. A first conductive substrate portion; a second conductive substrate portion provided above the first conductive substrate portion with a conductive film provided on a lower surface portion of the substrate; and an upper surface portion of the first conductive substrate portion. Alternatively, a gap formed between the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode provided on the lower surface portion of the second conductive substrate portion and the opposing surface of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode and the substrate portion facing the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode. This is achieved by a dye-sensitized solar cell provided with a gap holding material sandwiched between the opposing surfaces in the gap portion.

  A gap holding material is provided in a gap formed between the opposing surfaces of the first conductive substrate portion side and the second conductive substrate portion side, and the gap holding material sandwiches the gap portion, thereby The size in the height direction and the volume of the gap can be stabilized and uniform, and the electromotive force and power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell can be stabilized with high quality for mass production.

  Further, the object of the present invention is to provide a dye-sensitized solar cell in which the shape of the gap retaining material is approximately spherical, approximately cylindrical, approximately prismatic, or substantially pyramidal, A dye-sensitized solar cell having a shape that prevents or suppresses liquid flow, a dye-sensitized solar cell having a honeycomb structure or a net-like substantially plate shape, and the gap-holding material. A conductive dye-sensitized solar cell, a dye-sensitized solar cell in which the gap retaining material is insulating, and the gap retaining material are the first conductive substrate portion side and the second conductive substrate portion. A dye-sensitized solar cell provided with a conductive coating on at least one surface thereof; a dye-sensitized solar cell in which the gap retaining material has wettability to the electrolyte; and the height of the gap retaining material The direction size is in the gap. More effectively achieved by the dye-sensitized solar cell that is larger than the height direction size of the irregularities formed on the opposing surfaces on the first conductive substrate portion side and the second conductive substrate portion side. .

  By making the shape of the gap retaining material simple, the same gap retaining material can be easily mass-produced, and the shape of the gap retaining material can be increased by preventing or suppressing the flow of the electrolyte. The power and power generation efficiency is stabilized, and furthermore, it becomes possible to easily manufacture a gap retaining material having the same shape by making the shape of such a gap retaining material into a honeycomb structure or a net-like substantially plate shape. The contact area with the opposing surface of the holding material can be increased. In addition, since the gap retaining material can be formed of either conductive or non-conductive material, a wide variety of gap retaining materials can be used, and various gap retaining materials can be used depending on applications and functions. By providing a conductive film on at least one surface of the gap retaining material, even if the gap retaining material is formed of a non-conductive material, it can have the same high performance as when formed of a conductive material. In addition, by making the gap retaining material wettable with respect to the electrolytic solution, bubbles are not generated between the electrolytic solution and the gap retaining material, and a reduction in electromotive force and power generation efficiency can be prevented. In addition, since the height direction size of the gap retaining material is larger than the height direction size of the concavities and convexities on the opposing surface, the opposing surfaces come into contact with each other without using an electrolyte solution. There is no possible situation in which the transfer occurs.

  In the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, the amount of the electrolytic solution is stabilized by the gap retaining material, and there is no situation where electrons are exchanged without using the electrolytic solution. Individual differences among individual dye-sensitized solar cells are less likely to occur, and the reproducibility of performance is improved. In addition, by making the gap retention material a honeycomb structure or a network structure to prevent or suppress the flow of the electrolyte, individual differences between individual dye-sensitized solar cells are less likely to occur, and performance reproducibility is even better. become.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out a dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention. In this dye-sensitized solar cell 1, the transparent substrate 3 forming the first conductive substrate portion 2 is formed in a plate shape by a transparent body, and transmits light such as sunlight. Here, the transparent body forming the transparent substrate 3 is, for example, transparent glass, but is not limited thereto, and may be a resin such as transparent plastic.

  A transparent conductive film 4 is provided on the upper surface portion of the transparent substrate 3 to cover the upper surface portion of the transparent substrate 3. The transparent conductive film 4 is formed in a thin film shape using a material such as ITO (tin-containing indium oxide), tin oxide, or zinc oxide. However, the transparent conductive film 4 is not limited to these materials and does not reduce the transmittance. It can also be formed of a material such as platinum, metal, or carbon film having a thickness of.

  A dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 is provided on the upper surface of the transparent conductive film 4. The dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 is formed of a material such as titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide or the like, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed of other various semiconductors. it can.

  On the other hand, in the dye-sensitized solar cell 1, the substrate 7 forming the second conductive substrate portion 6 is formed in a plate shape from various materials. The substrate 7 is usually formed of an opaque material, but may be formed of a transparent material that transmits light, similar to the transparent substrate 3.

  A conductive film 8 is provided on the lower surface portion of the substrate 7 and covers the lower surface portion of the substrate 7. The conductive film 8 is formed in a thin film shape from various conductive materials such as titanium, tantalum, niobium, or zirconium, but is not limited thereto, and is made of, for example, a material such as platinum, metal, or carbon film. Further, like the transparent conductive film 4, it may be formed of a transparent material such as ITO (tin-containing indium oxide), tin oxide, or zinc oxide.

  The most part of the upper surface part of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the most part of the lower surface part of the conductive film 8 are opposed to each other to form opposed surfaces, and a gap portion is formed between these opposed surfaces. 10 is formed. One or both of the opposing surfaces may be formed over the entire upper surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the lower surface portion of the conductive film 8.

  The gap portion 10 is filled with an electrolytic solution 11. The electrolytic solution 11 uses an iodine solution generally used as the electrolytic solution 31 in the conventional dye-sensitized solar cell 21, but is not limited thereto, and functions as an electrolytic solution. Any liquid may be used as long as it can be filled. Further, a filling portion of the electrolytic solution 11 may be provided outside the gap portion 10. However, in this case, it is desirable that the filling portion of the electrolytic solution 11 is formed of a material and shape that does not flow the electrolytic solution 11.

  The peripheral portion of the gap 10 is surrounded by a sealing material (not shown), and the electrolytic solution 11 is sealed in the gap 10. The sealing material (not shown) is formed by applying a material that can seal the electrolyte solution 11 in the gap portion 10 and can be easily heated and melted to the peripheral edge portion of the gap portion 10, but is not limited thereto. Any material or member that can seal the electrolyte solution 11 in the gap 10 may be used.

  Further, in the gap portion 10, a gap holding material 12 is provided between the upper surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the lower surface portion of the conductive film 8. Examples of the material for forming the gap retaining member 12 include metallic conductive materials such as stainless steel, aluminum and nickel, or ceramics such as glass and alumina, and polymers such as nylon and polyimide. There may be mentioned one in which a conductive film is formed by coating a surface of one side of an insulating material with a metal such as platinum, carbon, aluminum or nickel by vapor deposition or plating. Furthermore, the gap retaining material 12 may be any material that does not dissolve in the electrolyte solution used and has wettability.

  As described above, since the gap retaining material 12 can be formed of either conductive or non-conductive material, the gap retaining material 12 has a wide variety, and various gap retaining materials 12 can be used depending on applications and functions. It becomes possible. However, in terms of performance such as electromotive force and power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell 1, it is better to form the gap retaining material 12 with a conductive material. Furthermore, since the gap retaining material 12 has wettability with respect to the electrolytic solution 11, bubbles are not generated between the electrolytic solution 11 and the gap retaining material 12, and the electromotive force and power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell 1 are eliminated. Can be prevented from falling.

  The shape of the gap retaining member 12 is, for example, a substantially spherical shape as shown in FIG. 3A, a substantially prismatic shape as shown in FIG. 3B, a substantially cylindrical shape (not shown), or a substantially It is easy to manufacture, such as a pyramid shape (not shown), and a plurality of them are formed in the gap portion 10 so that the size in the height direction of the gap portion 10 can be maintained constant. In this case, as the material of each of the gap retaining members 12, a material that can easily produce a plurality of the same shape, such as aluminum if it is a conductive material, or glass or resin if it is a non-conductive material, is used. Specifically, for example, when the gap-holding material 12 having a prismatic shape as shown in FIG. 3B is made of a nonconductive material, for example, a commercially available plate glass (for example, manufactured by Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.). A non-alkaline glass such as OA10 with a thickness of 0.7mm, or a blue plate) is cut into an appropriate size by cutting glass, or a cylindrical gap retaining material (Figure) In the same manner, it is conceivable to cut a glass fiber that is usually commercially available by cutting it into an appropriate size having a height direction size of about 0.7 mm. The gap holding member 12 is disposed in the gap 10 with a sufficient interval to keep the gap 10 in the height direction constant. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the gap holding members 12 are spaced equally between the gap holding members 12 in diameter and one side (for example, FIG. 3). If the diameter of the gap retaining material 12 shown in (a) is 0.7 mm, an interval of about 0.7, and if the length of one side of the gap retaining material 12 shown in FIG. It is desirable that the distance is about 0.7), but the gap 10 may be wider or narrower as long as the height of the gap 10 can be kept constant. It may be. When the gap retaining member 12 has a substantially prismatic shape or a substantially cylindrical shape (not shown) as shown in FIG. 3B, the end faces are aligned in a shape facing the direction of the facing surface. However, as long as the size of the gap portion 10 in the height direction can be maintained constant, part or all of the gap retaining member 12 may not have the end face directed toward the facing surface.

  In addition, the shape of each of the gap retaining members 12 may be unified with one of the aforementioned shapes, or a plurality of shapes may be mixed, and a plurality of the shapes may be disposed to Any shape other than those described above may be used as long as the size of the gap 10 in the height direction can be maintained constant.

  Then, by making the shape of the gap retaining material 12 simple as described above, the same gap retaining material 12 can be easily mass-produced.

  Further, the shape of the gap retaining member 12 may be a substantially plate shape having a large number of holes such as a honeycomb structure or a mesh shape as shown in FIG. Then, by making the gap retaining material 12 into a honeycomb structure or a net-like substantially plate shape, the electrolytic solution 11 sealed in the gap portion 10 while maintaining the height direction size of the gap portion 10 constant. Can be prevented or suppressed. Also in this case, the material of the gap retaining member 12 may be conductive or non-conductive. If the material is a conductive material, aluminum or the like is used. If the material is non-conductive, nylon or the like is used. Use. Specifically, for example, it is conceivable to use commercially available stainless mesh No. 400 or No. 200 for the conductive material, and nylon cloth for the non-conductive material. The gap retaining member 12 made of the latter non-conductive material may be provided with a conductive film by a method such as vapor deposition of a conductive material on one surface. Further, the gap retaining member 12 has a number other than a honeycomb structure or a mesh shape as long as it can prevent or suppress the flow of the electrolyte solution 11 while maintaining the height direction size of the gap portion 10 constant. It may be a substantially plate shape having a plurality of holes.

  Then, by making the shape of the gap retaining material 12 into a honeycomb structure or a net-like substantially plate shape, the gap retaining material 12 having the same shape can be easily manufactured, and the gap retaining material 12 is opposed to the facing surface of the gap retaining material 12. The contact area can be increased. Moreover, the shape of such a gap holding material 12 is a shape which prevents or suppresses the flow of the electrolyte solution 11, thereby stabilizing the electromotive force and power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell 1.

  Further, the height of the gap retaining material 12 is asperities formed on the upper surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the lower surface portion of the conductive film 8 which form the facing surface in the gap portion 10. It is only necessary to be larger than the size in the height direction, and it is generally formed from several μm to 1 mm, and more preferably from several tens μm to several hundred μm.

  In this way, by making the height of the gap retaining material 12 larger than the height of the concavities and convexities on the opposing surface, the opposing surfaces come into contact with each other and exchange electrons without passing through the electrolyte solution 11. Things will never happen.

  Then, a gap holding material 12 is provided in the gap 10 formed between the opposing surfaces of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the conductive film 8, and the gap holding material 12 is sandwiched by the gap 10, The size of the gap 10 in the height direction and the volume of the gap 10 are stabilized and uniformed, and the electromotive force and power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell 1 can be stabilized with high quality for mass production.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell of embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG.

  First, plate-like titanium, tantalum, niobium or zirconium, carbon, or the like is prepared as the substrate 7. Alternatively, a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or a ceramic substrate may be used as the substrate 7. Then, a conductive film 8 made of ITO, SnO2, Pt, carbon or the like is formed on the surface of the substrate 7 in a thin film by a vacuum deposition method to provide a second conductive substrate 6 (step 1).

  Next, a transparent glass substrate or plastic substrate is prepared as the transparent substrate 3, and ITO (tin-containing indium oxide), tin oxide, zinc oxide, or the like is attached to the surface portion of the transparent substrate 3, or the light transmittance is increased. A transparent conductive film 4 is formed by depositing a metal such as platinum or a carbon film having a thickness that does not decrease, and the first conductive substrate portion 2 is provided (step 2). In addition, the unevenness | corrugation formed in the surface part of the said transparent conductive film 4 at this time is measured by (alpha) step etc. (process 3).

  Next, at least one surface portion of the transparent conductive film 4 of the first conductive substrate portion 2 and the conductive film 8 of the second conductive substrate portion 6 (in this embodiment, the first conductive substrate portion 2). )) Is coated with a colloidal solution containing metal oxide fine particles such as titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide, zirconium oxide and a small amount of an organic polymer by a printing method or the like, dried naturally (step 4), and then 500 The organic polymer is volatilized by heat treatment at a high temperature of 0 ° C. to form fine pores on the surface, and a porous metal oxide film is provided (step 5). In addition, the unevenness | corrugation of the surface of the said metal oxide film is measured similarly to the process 3 here (process 6). The metal oxide film thus formed is immersed in a sensitizing dye solution to adsorb the sensitizing dye on the surface, thereby forming the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 (step 7).

  Next, a conductive film (conductive film 8 in this embodiment) provided on the surface of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 or the surface of the other substrate (second conductive substrate 6 in this embodiment). A gap retainer 12 having a mesh or honeycomb structure made of stainless steel is provided on either one of the upper surface portions of () (step 8). In this embodiment, it is provided on the surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5. As the gap retaining material 12, a material having a larger size in the height direction (thick in the present embodiment) than the sum of the unevenness measured in the step 3 and the step 6 is used.

  Next, an electrolytic solution 11 is dropped on the surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 provided with the gap retaining material 12 (step 9), and the surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the second conductivity are added. The surface portion of the conductive film 8 of the substrate portion 6 is opposed and overlapped (step 10). In this state, the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 and the conductive film 8 are opposed to each other with the gap holding material 12 interposed therebetween, and a gap 10 is formed between the opposing surfaces.

  Next, a sealing material (not shown) such as a seal dispenser is heated and melted and applied to the peripheral edge of the gap 10 to seal the electrolyte 11 in the gap 10 (step 11). The dye-sensitized solar cell 1 is completed through the above steps.

[Example 1]
As a first example of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, a dye-sensitized solar cell 1 was produced by the following procedure. First, two glass substrates having a size of 2 × 3 cm and a thickness of 2.8 mm are prepared. One glass substrate is used as a substrate 7 and a carbon film is formed on the surface of the substrate 7 by ion beam assisted deposition. Then, the second conductive substrate portion 6 provided with the conductive film 8 is formed, and the other glass substrate is used as the transparent substrate 3, and an ITO film is formed on the surface portion of the transparent substrate 3 by a sputtering method to a thickness of 200 nm. A first conductive substrate portion 2 provided with a film 4 was formed. The surface portions of the conductive film 8 and the transparent conductive film 4 had almost no unevenness, and the height direction size was 1 μm or less.
Next, the surface of the transparent conductive film 4 in the first conductive substrate portion 2 is masked and coated with a tape or the like, and then titanium oxide for photocatalyst having a particle size of about 20 nm is mixed with water, polyethylene glycol and nitric acid and mixed well. And printed.

  Next, it was heat-treated in the atmosphere at 500 ° C. for 30 minutes, cooled, and a titania film having an average thickness in which a titania film as a metal oxide film was formed.

  This titania film has an average size (thickness) in the height direction of about 10 μm, but in some places, the size of the unevenness in the height direction is about 30 μm. Thereby, the gap maintaining material 12 having a height direction size (thickness) of 30 μm or more was selected.

  Further, the metal oxide film was immersed in an ethanol solution of ruthenium complex. As a result, the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5 was formed by adsorbing and coating the ruthenium complex, which is a sensitizing dye, on the titanium oxide fine particles constituting the film of the metal participation film.

  Next, in the second conductive substrate portion 6, a spherical stainless steel spacer having a diameter of 50 μm shown in FIG. 3A is washed as a gap retaining material 12 on the surface portion of the conductive film 8 to remove moisture by heating. Then, an iodine electrolyte solution as an electrolyte solution 11 was dropped on the surface portion of the conductive film 8.

  Further, an iodine electrolyte solution as the electrolyte solution 11 was also impregnated into the surface portion of the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 5. As the iodine electrolyte, a solution obtained by dissolving tetrapropylammonium iodide and iodine in a mixed solution of ethylene carbonate and acetonitrile was used.

  Next, a spherical spacer is installed on the surface portion of the conductive film 8 so that the surface area of the conductive film 8 of the second conductive substrate portion 6 and the dye increase of the first conductive substrate portion 2 are increased. The surface portion of the sensitive semiconductor electrode 5 was opposed to the gap holding material 12 in between, and a gap portion 10 was formed between the opposing surfaces.

  Further, a sealing material (not shown) was applied to the peripheral portion of the gap portion 10 with a seal dispenser, and the electrolyte solution 11 was sealed in the gap portion 10 to produce one cell of the dye-sensitized solar cell 1. .

When the electromotive force was measured by irradiating the cell of this dye-sensitized solar cell 1 with a 500 W xenon lamp, the short-circuit current per 1 cm ² was about 6 mA and the open-circuit voltage was 0.57V.

[Example 2]
As a second embodiment of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, a 400 mesh stainless steel mesh having a thickness of about 60 μm as shown in FIG. The flow of the electrolyte solution 11 was prevented or suppressed. Other than that, one cell of dye-sensitized solar cell 1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

When the electromotive force was measured by irradiating the cell of this dye-sensitized solar cell 1 with a 500 W xenon lamp, the short-circuit current per 1 cm ² was about 8 mA and the open-circuit voltage was 0.59V.

[Example 3]
In the third embodiment of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, a 100 μm thick honeycomb structure having a 100 μm pitch made of stainless steel as shown in FIG. Other than that, one cell of dye-sensitized solar cell 1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

When the electromotive force was measured by irradiating the cell of this dye-sensitized solar cell 1 with a 500 W xenon lamp, the short-circuit current per 1 cm ² was about 8 mA and the open-circuit voltage was 0.59V.

[Example 4]
As a fourth embodiment of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, a material using a mesh made of nylon fibers having a thickness of about 100 μm was used as the gap retaining material 12. Other than that, one cell of dye-sensitized solar cell 1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

When the electromotive force was measured by irradiating the cell of this dye-sensitized solar cell 1 with a 500 W xenon lamp, the short circuit current per 1 cm ² was about 6 to 7 mA, and the open circuit voltage was 0.58 to 0.59 V. It was.

[Example 5]
As a fifth embodiment of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention, an ion beam assisted vapor deposition method is used as the gap retaining material 12 on one side of a mesh made of nylon fibers having a thickness of about 100 μm as in the fourth embodiment. The one coated with about 10 nm of Pt was used. Other than that, 10 cells of dye-sensitized solar cell 1 were produced in the same manner as in Example 4.

The cells of these dye-sensitized solar cells 1 were irradiated with a 500 W xenon lamp and their electromotive forces were measured. As a result, the short-circuit current per cm ² was about 8 mA and the open-circuit voltage was 0.59 V for all 10 cells. It was.

[Comparative Example 1]
As a comparative example, a dye-sensitized solar cell was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the gap retaining material 12 was not used. In addition, 10 cells of the dye-sensitized solar cell according to this comparative example were produced.

Then, when the electromotive force was measured by irradiating the dye-sensitized solar cell produced in Comparative Example 1 with a 500 W xenon lamp, the short-circuit current per 1 cm ^{2 of} each cell was about 4 to 7 mA, The open circuit voltage was 0.57 to 0.59V.

  From the above, it was confirmed that the dye-sensitized solar cell 1 according to the present invention was excellent in performance, and it was difficult for individual differences to occur and good performance reproducibility was obtained. In addition, from the results of Examples 1 to 5, it is confirmed that the dye-sensitized solar cell 1 has the function of the battery regardless of whether the gap retaining material 12 is made of a conductive material or a non-conductive material. did it. Furthermore, from the results of Example 4 and Example 5, when the gap retaining material 12 is made of a non-conductive material, when a conductive film is provided on at least one surface, compared to a case where no conductive film is provided, dye sensitization is achieved. It was confirmed that the solar cell 1 has a higher function.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the best form of the dye-sensitized solar cell of this invention. It is a process flow figure showing one best form of a dye sensitizing type solar cell same as the above. It is a schematic structure figure which shows the best form of the gap holding material used for a dye-sensitized solar cell same as the above. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the prior art example of a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dye-sensitized solar cell 2 1st electroconductive board | substrate part 3 Transparent substrate 4 Transparent electroconductive film 5 Dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 6 2nd electroconductive board | substrate part 7 Substrate 8 Conductive film 10 Gap part 11 Electrolytic solution 12 Gap maintenance Material 21 Dye-sensitized solar cell 22 Transparent substrate 23 Transparent conductive film 24 First conductive substrate portion 25 Dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode 26 Substrate 27 Conductive film 28 Second conductive substrate portion 30 Gap portion 31 Electrolytic solution

Claims (9)

A first conductive substrate portion provided with a transparent conductive film on an upper surface portion of the transparent substrate;
A second conductive substrate portion disposed above the first conductive substrate portion and provided with a conductive film on a lower surface portion of the substrate;
A dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode provided on an upper surface portion of the first conductive substrate portion or a lower surface portion of the second conductive substrate portion;
In a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising: the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode; and an electrolyte solution enclosed in a gap formed between opposing surfaces of the substrate portion facing the dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode.
A dye-sensitized solar cell, characterized in that a gap holding material sandwiched between the opposing surfaces is provided in the gap.   2. The dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the gap retaining material is substantially spherical, substantially cylindrical, substantially prismatic, or substantially pyramidal.   The dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the gap retaining material has a shape that prevents or suppresses the flow of the electrolytic solution.   4. The dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 3, wherein the gap retaining material has a honeycomb structure or a net-like substantially plate shape.   The dye-sensitized solar cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gap retaining material is conductive.   5. The dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the gap retaining material is insulative.   The dye-sensitized solar according to claim 6, wherein the gap retaining material is provided with a conductive coating on at least one surface of the first conductive substrate portion side and the second conductive substrate portion side. battery.   The dye-sensitized solar cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the gap retaining material has wettability to the electrolytic solution.   The height-direction size of the gap retaining material is larger than the height-direction sizes of the irregularities formed on the opposing surfaces of the gap portion on the first conductive substrate portion side and the second conductive substrate portion side, respectively. The dye-sensitized solar cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is large.

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