JP5160854B2 - Method for producing dye-sensitized solar cell element - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element, and more particularly, to a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element that does not expose a collector electrode of a main electrode and a counter electrode.

  As an energy source to replace fossil fuel, solar cells capable of converting sunlight into electric power have attracted attention and various studies have been conducted. At present, solar cells using a crystalline silicon substrate and thin film silicon solar cells are beginning to be put into practical use. However, the former has a problem that the manufacturing cost of the silicon substrate is high, and the latter has a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes high because it is necessary to use various semiconductor manufacturing gases and apparatuses and complicated processes. For this reason, although efforts have been made to reduce the cost per power generation output by increasing the efficiency of photoelectric conversion in any solar cell, the above problem has not been solved.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell was developed in 1991 by Gretzer et al. At the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and is also called a Gretzell cell. This is because a main electrode in which a semiconductor layer carrying a dye that emits electrons upon reception of light is formed on a substrate such as a transparent glass having a transparent conductive film on the surface, and a predetermined distance from the electrode. It is mainly composed of a counter electrode having a redox catalyst layer facing each other, an electrolyte filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode, and a resin layer for sealing the electrolyte. In general, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or the like is used for the semiconductor layer, and a platinum electrode, a carbon electrode, or the like is used for the counter electrode. A ruthenium complex is mainly used as the dye, and an electrolytic solution containing iodine is used as the electrolyte layer. In the above dye-sensitized solar cell, a phenomenon in which electrons are emitted when the sensitizing dye absorbs sunlight and is excited, a phenomenon in which electrons pass through an external circuit, and iodine in the electrolyte receives electrons from the counter electrode, It utilizes the phenomenon in which the dye that has emitted electrons receives and regenerates electrons from iodine ions in the electrolyte layer. Since this element can be manufactured by a simple process using an inexpensive oxide semiconductor such as titanium oxide, an inexpensive dye-sensitized solar cell element can be provided, and the dye absorbs visible light efficiently. It has the advantage of being able to convert light in almost all wavelength regions of light into electricity, and has attracted attention.

In addition, when the cell size is increased, it is necessary to lower the resistance of the transparent conductive film. Therefore, a low resistance conductive paint such as silver paste is placed on the periphery of the semiconductor layer on the transparent conductive film. Printing is performed to form a collecting electrode to reduce the resistance.
In the conventional method of manufacturing such a dye-sensitized solar cell element, a thermoplastic synthetic resin as a sealing material is disposed between the main electrode and the counter electrode, and then heated to bond the main electrode and the counter electrode together. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-243557 (paragraph “0062” to paragraph “0071”, FIG. 1)

  However, in the above-described conventional technique, there is a problem that when the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together, the sealant is crushed and the collector electrodes of the main electrode and the counter electrode are exposed and short-circuited. In particular, the film thickness of the silver paste printed by screen printing is thicker at the pattern edge than at the center of the pattern, so that the pattern edge is easily exposed when the sealant is crushed.

  The present invention aims to solve such problems.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a semiconductor layer carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light on a substrate having a transparent conductive film, a main electrode in which a collector electrode layer is formed around the semiconductor layer, and a transparent conductive film A counter electrode in which a redox catalyst layer is formed on a substrate having a first and second resin layers for sealing an electrolyte filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode facing each other at a predetermined interval; In the method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element comprising: a step of forming a first resin layer on the side surface and the upper surface of the collector electrode layer formed on the main electrode, and curing the first resin layer; After bonding the main electrode and the counter electrode through the step of laminating the second resin layer, the cured first resin layer, and the second resin layer laminated thereon, the second resin And a step of curing the layer.

  According to the present invention as described above, when the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together, the collector electrode is not exposed, and an effect that a short circuit between the main electrode and the counter electrode can be prevented is obtained.

  Examples of the method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the dye-sensitized solar cell element will be described based on the cross-sectional view of the main part of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the embodiment of FIG.
In FIG. 1, a dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 includes a substrate 2 such as transparent glass having a transparent conductive film 3 as an electrode on the surface, and a semiconductor carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light on the substrate 2. A main electrode on which a collector electrode layer 6 such as a silver paste is formed, and a redox catalyst layer 4 facing the main electrode with a predetermined distance therebetween. A counter electrode, an electrolyte 9 filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode, and a resin layer for sealing the electrolyte 9 and preventing corrosion of the collector electrode layer 6 due to iodine in the electrolytic solution (first Resin layer 7 and second resin layer 8).

Next, the manufacturing method of this dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is demonstrated based on principal part sectional drawing which shows the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the Example of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), a semiconductor layer 5 for carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light in the vicinity of a central portion on a substrate 2 such as transparent glass having a transparent conductive film 3 on the surface. And the collector electrode layer 6 such as a silver paste disposed around the semiconductor layer 5 is fired to form a main electrode. The dye is deposited on the semiconductor layer 5 after the semiconductor layer 5 and the collector electrode layer 6 are fired.

Further, a redox catalyst layer 4 is formed on a transparent glass substrate 2 having a transparent conductive film 3 on the surface, and a collector electrode layer 6 similar to the main electrode is baked on the redox catalyst layer 4. Counter electrode.
The substrate 2 is disposed on a light-receiving surface that receives sunlight, has transparency to sunlight, and the transparent conductive film 3 is a metal having transparency to sunlight and excellent conductivity. It is an oxide film (for example, fluorine-doped tin oxide or tin-doped indium oxide).

The redox catalyst layer 4 is, for example, platinum, the semiconductor layer 5 is, for example, titanium oxide, and the dye is, for example, a ruthenium complex dye, but is not limited thereto.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, in order to protect the collector electrode layer 6 from corrosion by iodine in the electrolyte and to prevent electrical leakage from between the main electrode and the counter electrode, the first resin layer 7 is formed. It forms so that the upper surface and side surface of the collector electrode layer 6 of a main electrode and a counter electrode may be covered, and it makes it harden | cure.

  Here, the upper surface of the collector electrode layer 6 indicates a portion facing the counter electrode when the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together, and the upper surface of the collector electrode layer 6 of the counter electrode is opposed to the main electrode. It shows a portion facing the main electrode when the electrode is bonded. And the 1st resin layer 7 may be formed in a part of upper surface of the current collection electrode layer 6, and is not necessarily formed in the whole upper surface. Further, the side surface of the collector electrode layer 6 is a surface on the space side in which the electrolyte 9 is enclosed, which is formed when the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together.

The sealing material for the first resin layer 7 includes a thermosetting type, an ultraviolet curing type, and the like, and there are resins such as an epoxy type, a silicon type, and a polyisobutylene type, which have a function of sealing the electrolyte 9. If there is, it is not limited to these. If it is a thermosetting type, it is heated for a required time at a required temperature, and if it is an ultraviolet curing type, it is cured by irradiating a required amount of ultraviolet rays.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, a second resin layer 8 is formed on the upper surface of the cured first resin layer 7 of the main electrode. Even if the second resin layer 8 has a function of sealing the electrolyte 9 and a function of adhering the main electrode and the counter electrode with a desired adhesive force, any type of curing type or resin can be used.

In the present embodiment, the second resin layer 8 is formed on the upper surface of the first resin layer 7 of the main electrode. However, the second resin layer 8 may be formed on the upper surface of the cured first electrode layer 7 of the counter electrode. Good. Moreover, you may make it form in the upper surface of the 1st resin layer 7 of both the hardened electrodes.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together via the first resin layer 7 and the second resin layer 8, and the second resin layer 8 is cured to form a cell. Form. Here, similarly to the first resin layer 7, the second resin layer 8 is also heated at a required temperature for a required time if it is a thermosetting type, and is cured by irradiating a required amount of ultraviolet light if it is an ultraviolet curable type.

By forming the second resin layer 8 on the upper surface of the first resin layer 7 cured in this way, and bonding the main electrode and the counter electrode through the second resin layer 8, The first resin layer 7 can be bonded without being crushed.
After the second resin layer 8 is cured, the electrolyte 9 is filled through an injection hole (not shown) between the main electrode and the counter electrode. The electrolyte 9 does not limit the solute, the solvent, and its state except that it contains iodine.

In FIG. 2D in the present embodiment, the counter electrode is an example of a configuration made of a substrate 2 such as transparent glass having a transparent conductive film 3 on the surface, and therefore the collector electrode layer 6 faces the main electrode layer. Although the electrode is formed in a pattern, when the resistance of the counter electrode is sufficiently low, such as a platinum plate, the collector electrode 6 is unnecessary, and therefore the collector electrode 6 and the first resin layer 7 are not required for the counter electrode.
In this way, the first resin layer 7 as a sealant is applied and cured on the upper surface of the collector electrode 6 of each substrate, and then the second resin layer 8 as a sealant is further applied to both. The substrates are bonded together, the second resin layer 8 is cured, and the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 that is a solar cell is assembled without exposing the collector electrode layer 6.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the first resin layer 7 is cured before the main electrode and the counter electrode are bonded together, only the second resin layer 8 is bonded when the two electrodes are bonded together. The first resin layer 7 is not crushed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the collector electrode 6 from being corroded by the electrolyte 9 without exposing the collector electrode layer 6 and to prevent electrical leakage between the substrate of the main electrode and the counter electrode.

Sectional drawing of the principal part of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in an Example Sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in an Example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dye-sensitized solar cell element 2 Substrate 3 Transparent conductive film 4 Redox catalyst layer 5 Semiconductor layer 6 Current collector layer 7 First resin layer 8 Second resin layer 9 Electrolyte

Claims (3)

A substrate having a transparent conductive film, a semiconductor layer carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light, a main electrode having a collector layer formed around the semiconductor layer, and a substrate having a transparent conductive film redox Dye sensitization comprising: a counter electrode on which a catalyst layer is formed; and a first electrode layer and a second resin layer for sealing an electrolyte filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode facing each other at a predetermined interval. In the method for manufacturing a solar cell element,
Forming and curing the first resin layer on a side surface and an upper surface of the collector electrode layer formed on the main electrode;
Laminating the second resin layer on the cured first resin layer;
And a step of curing the second resin layer after bonding the main electrode and the counter electrode through the cured first resin layer and the second resin layer. A method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element. Formed on a substrate having a transparent conductive film, a semiconductor layer carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light, a main electrode having a collector electrode layer formed around the semiconductor layer, and a substrate having a transparent conductive film Counter electrode having a collecting electrode layer formed on the redox catalyst layer, and first and second resin layers for sealing the electrolyte filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode facing each other at a predetermined interval In a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element comprising:
Forming and curing the first resin layer on the side and top surfaces of the collector electrode layer formed on the main electrode and the side and top surfaces of the collector electrode layer formed on the counter electrode;
Laminating a second resin layer on the cured first resin layer of the main electrode;
A step of curing the second resin layer after bonding the main electrode and the counter electrode through the cured first and second resin layers. Manufacturing method of solar cell element. Formed on a substrate having a transparent conductive film, a semiconductor layer carrying a dye that emits electrons upon receiving light, a main electrode having a collector electrode layer formed around the semiconductor layer, and a substrate having a transparent conductive film Counter electrode having a collecting electrode layer formed on the redox catalyst layer, and first and second resin layers for sealing the electrolyte filled between the main electrode and the counter electrode facing each other at a predetermined interval In a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element comprising:
Forming and curing the first resin layer on the side and top surfaces of the collector electrode layer formed on the main electrode and the side and top surfaces of the collector electrode layer formed on the counter electrode;
Laminating the second resin layer on the cured first resin layer of the counter electrode;
A step of curing the second resin layer after bonding the main electrode and the counter electrode through the cured first and second resin layers. Manufacturing method of solar cell element.

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