JP5732800B2 - Solar cell module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell, and more particularly to the structure and connection of solar cells.

  In recent years, expectations for solar cells have increased, and among them, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC: Dye Sensitized Solar Cell) have attracted attention. The dye-sensitized solar cell has various advantages such as being able to be manufactured by extending printing technology, being easy to mold, and being excellent in design because various colors can be realized. When light is applied to a cell of a dye-sensitized solar cell (hereinafter simply referred to as “cell”), the dye in the cell is excited and the dye emits electrons. The emitted electrons are taken out from a cathode called a working electrode. The electrons return to the anode called the counter electrode via an external load. The function of the battery is exhibited when the dye repeats electron emission and electron absorption. Dye-sensitized solar cells are not limited to outdoor power sources but are also being considered for application to main power sources and backup power sources for various electronic devices.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional solar cell module 230. FIG. 7 schematically shows an example disclosed in Patent Document 1, and a general configuration of a dye-sensitized solar cell will be described based on FIG. In the solar cell module 230, a plurality of cells 220 (hereinafter referred to as “cell 220” when collectively referred to. Other members are also expressed in the same manner) cells 220 a, 220 b, 220 c. Each cell 220 is irradiated with light 200 from below in the figure.

  The structure of the solar cell module 230 is as follows. As a representative, attention is paid to the cell 220b. In the cell 220b, a space is formed by the working electrode side transparent conductive layer 206b, the counter electrode side transparent conductive layer 208b, and the partition 216. This space is filled with the electrolyte 212 and includes the semiconductor layer 210b. The semiconductor layer 210b adsorbs the dye 214. The semiconductor layer 210b is bonded to the working electrode side transparent conductive layer 206b side. The working electrode side transparent conductive layer 206b of the cell 220b and the counter electrode side transparent conductive layer 208c of the cell 220c are connected by a conductive member 222. Similarly, the counter electrode side transparent conductive layer 208b of the cell 220b and the working electrode side transparent conductive layer 206a of the cell 220a are also connected by the conductive member 222. In order to prevent the electrolyte 212 from corroding the conductive member 222, chemical resistant partition walls 216 are provided on both sides of the conductive member 222.

JP 2007-12377 A JP 2001-357897 A JP 2009-181791 A JP 2009-238583 A

  As main problems of such a solar cell module 230, the following three points can be cited. First, since the conductive member 222 and the partition walls 216 on both sides thereof are present, the size of the semiconductor layer 210 must be reduced. As a result, of the surface area of the solar cell module 230, the ratio of the area that can be used for lighting (hereinafter referred to as “effective power generation area”) becomes small (hereinafter referred to as “Problem 1”). Second, the structure is complicated. In particular, the structure around the conductive member 222 is complicated and difficult to manufacture (hereinafter referred to as “Problem 2”). Third, if a problem occurs at one location, the entire solar cell module 230 cannot be used. For example, when the conductive member 222 that connects the cell 220b and the cell 220c is disconnected, the influence extends to the entire solar cell module 230 (hereinafter referred to as “Problem 3”).

  The present invention has been completed based on the recognition of the above problems by the present inventors, and its main object is to easily secure an effective power generation area and to make and repair a cell structure of a dye-sensitized solar cell that is easy to manufacture and repair. In particular, it is to propose a suitable connection method for cells.

  The solar cell module according to the present invention generates a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells that generate electrons from a working electrode, which is an electrode provided on the daylighting surface side, and take in electrons from a counter electrode, which is an electrode provided on the non-lighting surface side. By connecting the cell, the working electrode of the first cell, and the counter electrode of the second cell adjacent to the first cell on the outer wall surface of the cell, a connecting conductor for connecting a plurality of cells in series is provided.

  Here, “on the outer wall surface” does not need to be exposed as the outer wall surface of the solar cell module itself, and may be on the outer wall surface of the cell. By providing the connecting conductor on the cell outer wall surface, it is not necessary to enclose the conductive member, so that the cell connection structure of the solar cell module is simplified. Even if the connection conductor becomes poorly connected, it is easy to repair and change the connection conductor, so that the entire solar cell module can be easily used. Further, since the structure is such that the partition walls at the cell-to-cell connection portion can be easily thinned, the effective power generation area can be easily increased.

Each cell may be arranged rotationally symmetric with respect to the first axis. Both the working electrode and the counter electrode of each cell may be provided with protrusions in the rotation direction with respect to the first axis. Connecting conductors may be connected to the projecting portion of the working electrode of the first cell projections of the counter electrode of the second cell.

  By arranging a plurality of cells rotationally symmetrically with respect to the first axis, a solar cell module that forms all or part of the radial solar cell centering on the first axis is formed. According to such a structure, the freedom degree of design of a dye-sensitized solar cell can be expanded. In addition, by aligning the central angle of each cell with respect to the first axis, it becomes easy to equalize the cell size, and thus the electrical characteristics.

Both the working electrode and the counter electrode of each cell may be provided with notches in the rotation direction with respect to the first axis. The notch provided in the working electrode of the second cell accommodates the protrusion provided in the working electrode of the first cell, and the notch provided in the counter electrode of the first cell contains the protrusion of the second cell. A protrusion provided on the counter electrode may be accommodated.

  The shape of each cell may be a sector shape having substantially the same central angle with respect to the first axis. The term “substantially identical” as used herein means, for example, an identity that allows a deviation of about 5%. The same applies to the meaning of the term “abbreviated” below.

  The effective power generation area of each cell may be substantially the same. By aligning the effective power generation area, the electromotive force of each cell can be easily made uniform.

When the side closer to the first axis is the inner peripheral side and the far side is the outer peripheral side, the working electrode is provided with both a notch and a protrusion at the outer end, and the counter electrode is also notched at the outer end. You may provide both a part and a projection part .

Alternatively, in the working electrode, a cutout is provided on one of the outer peripheral end and the inner peripheral end, and a protrusion is provided on the other, and in the counter electrode, a cutout is provided on one of the outer peripheral end and the inner peripheral end, and on the other. A protrusion may be provided.

  According to the present invention, a dye-sensitized solar cell that easily secures an effective power generation area and is easy to manufacture and repair can be easily realized.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the cell of a dye-sensitized solar cell. It is a schematic perspective view of a solar cell module. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection method of a working electrode electrically conductive film and a counter electrode electrically conductive film. It is a top view which shows the connection relation of the working electrode electrically conductive film and counter electrode electrically conductive film in the 1st example of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the connection relation of the working electrode electrically conductive film and counter electrode electrically conductive film in the 2nd example of this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the connection relation of the working electrode electrically conductive film and counter electrode electrically conductive film in a comparative example. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the conventional solar cell module.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cell of a dye-sensitized solar cell. FIG. 1 shows the structure of one cell 100. The right direction in the figure is the positive direction of the x-axis, the upward direction is the positive direction of the z-axis, and the direction from the paper surface to the back is the positive direction of the y-axis. The cell 100 in FIG. 1 generates power by the light 200 from the lower direction in the figure. The light 200 is emitted in the positive direction of the z axis.

  The structure of the cell 100 is as follows. In the cell 100, the counter electrode conductive film 110 is provided on the counter electrode side substrate 108 on the non-lighting surface side. The counter electrode substrate 108, the counter electrode conductive film 110, and the catalyst layer 126 are collectively referred to as “counter electrode”. The counter electrode side substrate 108 is formed as a plastic substrate such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a glass substrate. The counter electrode side substrate 108 may be formed as a metal substrate, an alloy substrate, a ceramic substrate, or a laminate thereof. The counter electrode side substrate 108 preferably has a light-transmitting property, and is particularly preferably formed of a material having excellent light-transmitting property in the visible light region. Further, the counter electrode side substrate 108 may be formed of a material that is easily bent. The counter electrode conductive film 110 may be formed as a transparent conductive film. Specific examples of the transparent conductive film include indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, tin oxide (4), indium oxide, and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO). The transparent conductive film (counter electrode conductive film 110) may be formed by a known method such as a vapor deposition method, a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, a spray method, a spin coating method, or an immersion method. The counter electrode conductive film 110 may be subjected to surface modification treatment. Specific examples of the surface modification treatment include a degreasing treatment using a surfactant, an organic solvent, an alkaline aqueous solution, a mechanical polishing treatment, an immersion treatment in an aqueous solution, a preliminary electrolytic treatment using an electrolytic solution, a water washing treatment, a drying treatment, and the like. It is done.

  A catalyst layer 126 is provided on the surface of the counter electrode conductive film 110. It is preferable to use platinum as the catalyst. In addition to platinum, the catalyst layer 126 may be formed of a metal such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, indium, molybdenum, titanium, carbon, a conductive polymer, or the like.

  A working electrode conductive film 104 is disposed on the working electrode side substrate 102 on the light-collecting surface side. The material of the working electrode side substrate 102 is the same as the material of the counter electrode side substrate 108.

  A space partitioned by the working electrode conductive film 104, the counter electrode conductive film 110, and the partition 112 is filled with an electrolyte 116, and a metal oxide layer 114 is formed on the surface of the working electrode conductive film 104. The working electrode conductive film 104 is formed as a transparent conductive film. As the transparent conductive film, those listed as specific examples of the counter electrode conductive film 110 can be suitably used. Further, similarly to the counter electrode conductive film 110, surface modification treatment may be performed.

  The metal oxide layer 114 is porous mainly composed of a metal oxide such as titanium oxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (4), tungsten trioxide (WO3), niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5). This is a semiconductor layer. The metal oxide layer 114 is formed of a metal such as titanium, tin, zinc, iron, tungsten, zirconium, strontium, indium, cerium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and bismuth, and these metal oxides and metals. Chalcogenides may be included. The thickness of the metal oxide layer 114 is about 0.05 to 50 μm.

  As a method of forming the metal oxide layer 114, a sintering method in which a preparation containing metal oxide particles is applied on the working electrode conductive film 104 and then sintered, or 50 to 150 degrees after application of the preparation. The low temperature processing method which performs a low temperature process of a grade, More preferably about 70-150 degree | times is mentioned. According to these methods, a porous structure in which metal oxide particles are aggregated can be easily formed. From the viewpoint of reducing the environmental burden, the low temperature treatment method is preferable. In the case of the low temperature processing method, there is an advantage that it is easy to apply even when the substrate contains a resin.

  The above-mentioned preparation is preferably a preparation liquid containing a dispersion medium such as a dispersion liquid, a sol liquid, or a slurry liquid. Examples of the dispersion medium include various organic solvents such as water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, dichloromethane, acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, toluene, dimethylformamide, ethoxyethanol, and cyclohexanone. If necessary, auxiliary agents such as other surfactants, acids, and chelating agents may be included.

  As the electrolyte 116, a redox electrolyte solution, a semi-solid electrolyte obtained by gelling the solution, or a film obtained by forming a p-type semiconductor solid hole transport material, or the like can be used. Examples of the electrolytic solution include a solution using a nitrile solvent containing iodine, iodide, bromine, bromide, etc., an ethylene carbonate solution, a propylene carbonate solution, and the like. The electrolyte 116 in the present embodiment is an electrolytic solution in which iodine (I2) is dissolved. The concentration of the electrolytic solution, the additive, and the like may be set and selected according to the required performance. As additives, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyphenylene, polyphenylene vinylene, and derivatives thereof are used as p-type conductive polymers, imidazolium ions, pyridinium ions, triazolium ions, and combinations of these and halogen ions. In addition, a molten salt, a gelling agent, an oil gelling agent, a dispersant, a surfactant, a stabilizer, and the like are used.

  A dye 118 (sensitizing dye) is adsorbed on the surface of the porous metal oxide layer 114. The dye 118 may be water-soluble, water-insoluble, or oil-soluble. Specific examples of the dye 118 include xanthene dyes such as eosin Y, coumarin dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, naphthalocyanine dyes, porphyrin dyes, and polypyridine metal complexes. Dyes, ruthenium bipyridinium dyes, azo dyes, quinone dyes, quinone imine dyes, quinacridone dyes, squalium dyes, perylene dyes, indigo dyes, oxonol dyes, polymethine dyes, riboflavin dyes, etc. It is done. The dye 118 preferably has an adsorptive group that interacts with the metal oxide in order to increase the amount of the dye supported. Specific examples of the adsorptive group include a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group.

  Examples of the method for supporting the dye 118 on the metal oxide layer 114 include a method in which the metal oxide layer 114 is immersed in a solution containing the dye 118 and a method in which a solution containing the dye 118 is applied to the metal oxide layer 114. . The solution containing the dye 118 may be water, an ethanol solvent, a nitrile solvent, a ketone solvent, or the like. The material of the partition 112 is resin, glass, or the like. The metal oxide layer 114, the working electrode conductive film 104, and the working electrode side substrate 102 are collectively referred to as a “working electrode”. Note that an “intermediate layer” may be provided between the metal oxide layer 114 and the working electrode conductive film 104. The intermediate layer is preferably formed of the metal oxide described above in relation to the counter electrode conductive film 110. The intermediate layer is formed by a known method such as an evaporation method, a CVD method, a spray method, a spin coating method, an immersion method, or an electrodeposition method. The intermediate layer preferably has translucency and conductivity. The thickness of the intermediate layer is about 0.1 to 5 μm. The distance from the working electrode conductive film 104 to the counter electrode conductive film 110, that is, the thickness of the space is about 1 to 300 μm.

  The operating principle of the cell 100 is as follows. The light 200 transmitted through the working electrode side substrate 102 and the working electrode conductive film 104 excites the dye 118 on the surface of the metal oxide layer 114, and the dye 118 injects electrons into the metal oxide layer 114. Electrons are emitted to the working electrode conductive film 104. The dye oxidized by releasing electrons takes electrons from iodine ions which are redox pairs, and is re-reduced to return to the original state. Although details will be described later, the electrons emitted to the working electrode conductive film 104 are supplied to the counter electrode conductive film 110 of the adjacent cell 100. The electrons supplied from the adjacent cell 100 re-reduce the redox couple that has been deprived of electrons from the dye. Such a power generation cycle continues. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the electromotive force of one cell 100 is 0.5 (V).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the solar cell module 130. The shape of the dye-sensitized solar cell module 130 in the present embodiment is a hollow disk shape. The solar cell module 130 includes eight cells 100a to 100h. Each cell 100 has a sector shape with a central angle of 45 degrees. That is, all the cells 100 are arranged in rotational symmetry with respect to the virtual first axis 132. The position of the first axis 132 in the xy plane is called an aggregation point P.

  A negative electrode terminal 134 is drawn from the working electrode conductive film 104 on the upper side of the cell 100a, that is, on the daylighting surface side. The counter electrode conductive film 110 of the cell 100a is connected to the working electrode conductive film 104 of the cell 100b via a connecting conductor (not shown). The connecting conductor is formed on the outer wall surface 150 of the cell 100. The counter electrode conductive film 110 of the cell 100b is connected to the working electrode conductive film 104 of the cell 100c. The same applies hereinafter, and the counter electrode conductive film 110 of the cell 100g is connected to the working electrode conductive film 104 of the cell 100h. A positive electrode terminal 136 is drawn from the counter electrode conductive film 110 of the cell 100h.

  As a result, the eight cells 100 are connected in series between the negative electrode terminal 134 and the positive electrode terminal 136. When the electromotive force of each cell 100 is 0.5 (V), the electromotive force of the entire solar cell module 130 is 0.5 × 8 = 4.0 (V). Note that the effective power generation areas of the cells 100 are substantially the same. This is for suppressing variation in electrical characteristics such as impedance and increasing the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module 130 as a whole. Details will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method of connecting the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110. Both the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110 have a sector shape. A protrusion 122a is provided at one end of the outer peripheral portion (the side far from the first shaft 132) of the counter electrode conductive film 110a, and a notch 124a is provided at the other end. Similarly, a protrusion 140a is provided at one end of the outer peripheral portion of the working electrode conductive film 104a, and a notch 142a is provided at the other end. The protrusion 140b of the working electrode conductive film 104b of the adjacent cell 100b enters the notch 142a of the working electrode conductive film 104a of the cell 100a. Further, the protrusion 122a of the counter electrode conductive film 110a of the cell 100a faces the protrusion 140b of the working electrode conductive film 104b of the cell 100b. By connecting the protrusion 122a of the counter electrode conductive film 110a and the protrusion 140b of the working electrode conductive film 104b with a conductor (connection conductor), free electrons flowing from the metal oxide layer 114 into the working electrode conductive film 104b It can be supplied to the counter electrode conductive film 110a of the cell 100a. The conductive conductor may be applied to the projecting portion 140 and the projecting portion 122, and the connecting conductor may be formed by bringing them into close contact when the working electrode side substrate 102 and the counter electrode side substrate 108 are bonded together. Alternatively, the connection conductor may be formed by injecting a conductive paste from the outer wall surface of the cell 100 after sealing the electrolytic solution in the cell 100. In any case, the connecting conductor is provided on the outer wall surface of the cell 100 (sealing region). Here, the “outer wall surface” may be an outer wall surface of the cell 100, and need not be an outer wall surface of the solar cell module 130 itself. For example, the cell 100 may be formed, a connection conductor may be formed on the outer wall surface, and a cover or the like for protecting the connection conductor may be further provided. By such a connection method, a “battery” in which a plurality of cells 100 are connected in series can be formed.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a connection relationship between the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110 in the first example of the present embodiment. The first example corresponds to the configuration of FIG. In the first example, both the notch 124 and the protrusion 122 are provided at the outer peripheral side end of the counter electrode conductive film 110. The working electrode conductive film 104 is also provided with a notch 142 and a protrusion 140 at the outer peripheral end. In the cell 100h, the positive electrode terminal 136 is drawn from the protrusion 122h of the counter electrode conductive film 110h. In the cell 100a, the negative electrode terminal 134 is drawn from the protrusion 140a of the working electrode conductive film 104a. A metal oxide layer 114 is formed on the working electrode conductive film 104. The metal oxide layer 114 has a shape in which two notches are formed at the outer peripheral side end. The negative electrode terminal 136 and the positive electrode terminal 134 are installed at positions that do not overlap when the solar cell module 130 is viewed in plan view (z-axis direction). Thus, the negative electrode terminal 136 and the positive electrode terminal 134 are not easily short-circuited.

The manufacturing method of the solar cell module 130 in the first example is as follows. The same applies to the second example described below. First, an FTO serving as the working electrode conductive film 104 is provided on the working electrode side substrate 102 and patterned by blasting. Next, a titanium oxide paste is applied on the working electrode conductive film 104 by screen printing, and heated at about 450 degrees for 90 minutes to form the metal oxide layer 114. Next, the working electrode side substrate 102 is immersed in 20 ml of an absolute ethanol solution to which (4,4′-dicarboxylic acid-2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium (2) diisothiocyanate is added at 3 × 10 ⁻⁴ M for about 12 hours. . After soaking, it is washed with anhydrous acetonitrile and allowed to air dry. The metal oxide layer 114 becomes crimson due to adsorption of the ruthenium dye.

  An FTO to be the counter electrode conductive film 110 is provided on the counter electrode side substrate 108, and a 10 nm thick platinum film is sputtered on the counter electrode conductive film 110. This platinum film becomes the catalyst layer 126. A pattern is formed by blasting the surface of the catalyst layer 126 and removing the counter electrode conductive film 110 and the catalyst layer 126.

  A UV curable sealing adhesive is applied onto the working electrode side substrate 102 with a dispenser, and the electrolytic solution is dropped onto the metal oxide layer 114. Then, the working electrode side substrate 102 and the counter electrode side substrate 108 are bonded together. After releasing the atmosphere, the sealing adhesive is cured by UV irradiation. As the electrolytic solution, a methoxypropionitrile solution containing tetrapropylammonium iodide (0.4M) and iodine (0.04M) is used. After the bonding, a UV curable silver paste is inserted on the cell outer wall surface between the working electrode conductive film 104 of a certain cell 100 and the catalyst layer 126 of the adjacent cell 100, and the cells 100 are connected in series by UV curing. Connecting.

  In the case of the first example, the metal oxide layers 114a to 114h have the same size and shape. Since the electric characteristics of the cell 100 are the same, the power generation efficiency of the entire solar cell module 130 is increased. In addition, since the counter electrode conductive films 110a to 110h and the working electrode conductive films 104a to 104h have the same size and shape, both the counter electrode conductive film 110 and the working electrode conductive film 104 are formed by a single patterning mask. There is a manufacturing merit that it can.

  Since it is not the structure which encloses a conductive member, the partition for protecting a conductive member from both sides is unnecessary. As a result, it becomes easy to make the partition wall of the cell connection portion thinner, and a large effective power generation area can be secured. In other words, since the ratio of the effective power generation area to the area of the daylighting surface of the solar cell module 130 can be increased, it is effective in solving the problem 1. Since the connecting conductor is formed outside the cell 100, it is effective in solving the problems 2 and 3.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a connection relationship between the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110 in the second example of the present embodiment. In the second example, a protrusion 122h is provided at the outer peripheral end of the counter electrode conductive film 110h, and a notch 124h is provided at the inner peripheral end. On the other hand, in the case of the adjacent counter electrode conductive film 110g, a notch 124g is provided at the outer peripheral side end, and a protrusion 122g is provided at the inner peripheral end. In the counter electrode conductive film 110 of the second example, the protrusions 122 and the notches 124 appear alternately on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side. The same applies to the working electrode conductive film 104. The working electrode conductive film 104h is provided with a notch 142h at the outer peripheral end and a protrusion 140h at the inner peripheral end. In the case of the adjacent working electrode conductive film 104g, a protrusion 140g is provided at the outer peripheral end, and a notch 142g is provided at the inner peripheral end. In the working electrode conductive film 104 of the second example, the protrusions 140 and the notches 142 appear alternately on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side.

  In the cell 100h, the positive electrode terminal 136 is drawn from the protrusion 122h of the counter electrode conductive film 110h. In the cell 100a, the negative electrode terminal 134 is drawn from the protrusion 122a of the working electrode conductive film 104a. A metal oxide layer 114 is formed on the working electrode conductive film 104. The metal oxide layer 114 has a shape in which notched portions are formed at the outer peripheral side end and the inner peripheral side end, respectively.

  Also in the case of the second example, the metal oxide layers 114a to 114h have the same size and the same shape. Since the electric characteristics of the cell 100 are the same, the power generation efficiency of the entire solar cell module 130 is increased. The counter electrode conductive films 110a to 110h and the working electrode conductive films 104a to 104h have two patterns such as the counter electrode conductive film 110h and the counter electrode conductive film 110g. In the second example, as in the first example, the problems 1 to 3 can be solved.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a connection relationship between the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110 in the comparative example. In the comparative example, the counter electrode conductive film 110 and the working electrode conductive film 104 are both fan-shaped and do not have the protruding portions 140 and 122 and the notched portions 142 and 124.

  In the case of the comparative example, a connection conductor is provided between the cells 100 as in the conventional type described with reference to FIG. For this reason, in order to protect a connection conductor from corrosion, the partition which covers a connection conductor is needed. As a result, the effective power generation area of the entire solar cell module 130 is reduced. This problem is as described in connection with FIG. According to the experiments by the present inventors, it was confirmed that the maximum output of the comparative example was reduced by about 18% compared to the first and second examples. Since the connection conductor is built in, if any of the connection conductors has poor conduction, the repair is difficult, and the solar cell module 130 itself has to be discarded.

  In general, the cells of a dye-sensitized solar cell are often formed in a rectangular shape (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 3 proposes a circular cell, but it is difficult to secure a sufficient electromotive force because it is a single cell. On the other hand, the solar cell module 130 of the dye-sensitized solar cell in the present embodiment forms a circular solar cell module 130 by combining a large number of fan-shaped cells. Thereby, the variation of a design can be expanded, ensuring sufficient electromotive force. The solar cell module 130 in the present embodiment is circular, but may have other radial shapes such as a polygon. In this case, the shape of the cell 100 may be a trapezoid or a triangle. According to the solar cell module 130 of the present embodiment, it is possible to make the dye-sensitized solar cell compatible with various radiation shapes as well as the conventional rectangular type.

  The cells 100 are connected by connecting conductors in the outer peripheral portion. For this reason, it becomes easy to connect a plurality of cells 100 in series while ensuring an effective power generation area. Further, according to the configuration as in the first example and the second example, the metal oxide layer 114 can be formed in the same shape, so that the effective power generation area of the cell 100 can be easily made uniform. Since the working electrode conductive film 104 and the counter electrode conductive film 110 have the same shape, there is also an advantage that the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are illustrative, and that various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention, and that such modifications and changes are also within the scope of the claims of the present invention. By the way. Accordingly, the description and drawings herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

  100 cells, 102 working electrode side substrate, 104 working electrode conductive film, 108 counter electrode side substrate, 110 counter electrode conductive film, 112 partition wall, 114 metal oxide layer, 116 electrolyte, 118 dye, 122 protrusion, 124 notch, 126 Catalyst layer, 130 solar cell module, 132 first axis, 134 positive terminal, 136 negative terminal, 140 protrusion, 142 notch, 200 light, 202 substrate, 204 substrate, 206 working electrode side transparent conductive layer, 208 counter electrode side Transparent conductive layer, 210 semiconductor layer, 212 electrolyte, 214 dye, 216 partition, 220 cell, 222 conductive member, 230 solar cell module.

Claims (4)

Actions of a plurality of cells of a dye-sensitized solar cell that generates electrons from a working electrode that is an electrode provided on the daylighting side and takes electrons from a counter electrode that is an electrode provided on the non-lighting side, and the action of the first cell by connecting a counter electrode of a second cell adjacent to the to pole first cell, the solar cell module, characterized by comprising a connecting conductor for connecting serially the plurality of cells,
Each cell is rotationally symmetric with respect to a first axis perpendicular to the working electrode;
When the side closer to the first axis is the inner peripheral side and the far side is the outer peripheral side,
The working electrode of the first cell has a protrusion at the outer peripheral end on the side adjacent to the second cell, and a notch at the inner peripheral end on the side not adjacent to the second cell. Provided,
The counter electrode of the first cell is provided with a notch at the outer peripheral end on the side adjacent to the second cell, and a protrusion at the inner peripheral end on the side not adjacent to the second cell. And
The working electrode of the second cell has a notch at the outer peripheral end on the side adjacent to the first cell, and a protrusion at the inner peripheral end on the side not adjacent to the first cell. ,
The counter electrode of the second cell is provided with a protrusion at the outer peripheral end on the side adjacent to the first cell and a notch at the inner peripheral end on the side not adjacent to the first cell. And
The connecting conductor connects the protrusion of the working electrode of the first cell and the protrusion of the counter electrode of the second cell . Before SL The cutout portion provided at the working electrode of the second cell, the protrusion provided on the working electrode of the first cell is accommodated,
2. The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion provided on the counter electrode of the second cell is accommodated in the notch provided on the counter electrode of the first cell.
  The solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape of each cell is a fan shape having the same central angle with respect to the first axis. The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the effective power generation area of each cell is the same.

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