JP5817783B2 - Dye-sensitized solar cell module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell module that prevents the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, has high power generation efficiency, and is excellent in processability.

  In recent years, environmental problems such as global warming caused by an increase in carbon dioxide have become serious, and countermeasures are being promoted worldwide. In particular, active research and development on solar cells using solar energy as a clean energy source with a low environmental impact is underway. As such solar cells, single crystal silicon solar cells, polycrystalline silicon solar cells, amorphous silicon solar cells, compound semiconductor solar cells and the like have already been put into practical use, but these solar cells have high production costs, etc. There is a problem. Therefore, as a solar cell that has a small environmental load and can reduce the manufacturing cost, a dye-sensitized solar cell has been attracting attention and research and development have been promoted.

Here, a general dye-sensitized solar cell is formed between, for example, a pair of electrode base materials having a function as electrodes and the pair of electrode base materials, and a dye sensitizer is carried on the surface. A porous layer containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles, and an electrolyte layer formed between the pair of electrode substrates so as to be in contact with the porous layer and having an electrolyte containing a redox pair. is there. In the dye-sensitized solar cell described above, at least one of the electrode substrates has transparency since at least one of the electrode substrates serves as a sunlight receiving surface.
The electrolyte layer is formed, for example, by enclosing a liquid electrolyte in a space formed by the pair of electrode base materials and a sealing member provided between the pair of electrode base materials. Can be mentioned. Further, the sealing member used for the electrolyte layer has not only a function of holding a liquid electrolyte together with the pair of electrode base materials but also a contact between the pair of electrode base materials, so that the dye-sensitized solar It has a function of preventing the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the battery.

In order to put such a dye-sensitized solar cell into practical use, a larger output voltage is required. Therefore, by connecting a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, It has been tried to do.
Further, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, if an internal short circuit occurs in one dye-sensitized solar cell element among the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module Since it affects the whole, it is one of important issues to prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element.

By the way, in the said dye-sensitized solar cell element module, in order to improve workability, the structure which can provide high flexibility is calculated | required.
Here, as a configuration of a conventional dye-sensitized solar cell element module having flexibility, for example, a configuration in which a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements are formed between two flexible substrates. Is mentioned.
However, when bending is performed on the dye-sensitized solar cell module having the above-described configuration, the two flexible substrates have different curvatures, and thus exhibit a desired bendability. However, there is a problem that the dye-sensitized solar cell module deteriorates due to bending or bending.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, as a configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, a first electrode base material in which a plurality of first electrode layers are formed on one first base material, and a second electrode layer A plurality of second electrode base materials, a plurality of first electrode layers formed on one first electrode base material, and a plurality of second electrode base materials formed between the second electrode layers of each second electrode base material A plurality of sealing members disposed around the plurality of first electrode layers and the plurality of second electrode layers, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, and the sealing member. A structure of a dye-sensitized solar cell element module having a plurality of electrolyte layers formed by enclosing a liquid electrolyte in a space to be formed is disclosed. According to the configuration described above, a configuration in which the second electrode layers formed on each second electrode substrate face each other in accordance with the plurality of first electrode layers formed on one first electrode substrate. Therefore, a dye-sensitized solar cell element module exhibiting high flexibility can be obtained.

  However, when manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, a process of injecting an electrolyte after bonding the first electrode base material and the second electrode base material is required. There is a problem that it takes time to manufacture the area cell. Further, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, it is necessary to provide an adhesive portion, an insulating portion, or the like in order to bond the first electrode base material and the second electrode base material. Insulating parts, etc. cannot contribute to power generation, causing the power generation efficiency to decrease by reducing the power generation area of the entire dye-sensitized solar cell module, and excessive use of materials such as base materials There was a problem. Moreover, it may become difficult to fully inject | pour electrolyte into the space mentioned above from the bending of each electrode base material.

Further, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, since it is possible to impart high flexibility, in use, each dye-sensitized solar cell element has a first electrode layer and Even if the sealing member is disposed around the second electrode layer, the electrode layers may come into contact with each other, causing a problem that an internal short circuit occurs.
Therefore, the dye-sensitized solar cell module has a configuration that can have high flexibility and can effectively prevent an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element. It is desired.

JP 2006-32110 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, can suitably prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, has high power generation efficiency and excellent workability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dye-sensitized solar cell module.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a first electrode substrate having a first substrate and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first substrate, at least a second electrode substrate. It is formed on any one of a plurality of second electrode base materials having an electrode layer, the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a dye sensitizer, and the second electrode of the first electrode layer or the second electrode substrate of the first electrode substrate. Of the layers, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer, the first electrode layer, Dye-sensitized solar cell element having second electrode layer, porous layer, and solid electrolyte layer The first electrode layer of one of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements and the first of the other dye-sensitized solar cell elements adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. A dye-sensitized solar cell element module in which two electrode layers are electrically connected, wherein the dye-sensitized solar cell element is outside an end portion of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate. In addition, the present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell module characterized by having an end region including the first base material, the solid electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer.

  According to the present invention, since the first electrode layer is not formed in the end region of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are not opposed to each other. Since the solid electrolyte layer is disposed in the end region, the contact between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in one dye-sensitized solar cell element can be suitably prevented. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the said dye-sensitized solar cell element hard to produce an internal short circuit. Further, by using the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made to have high performance.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer is disposed at an end portion of the second electrode layer in the end region. In the dye-sensitized solar cell element, an internal short circuit is likely to occur due to contact between the end portion of the first electrode layer and the end portion of the second electrode layer. Therefore, a solid electrolyte layer is formed at the end portion of the second electrode layer. By being arranged, it becomes possible to more effectively prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is made higher. be able to.

  In the present invention, the width of the solid electrolyte layer is preferably larger than the width of the first electrode layer. Thereby, since a solid electrolyte layer can be arrange | positioned with sufficient area on a 1st electrode layer, the electric power generation area of a dye-sensitized solar cell element can fully be enlarged. Therefore, the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be made higher.

  Since the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention is composed of a dye-sensitized solar cell element having an end region, the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element is prevented. There is an effect that it becomes possible.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the 1st electrode base material used for the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the 1st electrode base material used for the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the 1st electrode base material formation process in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the board | substrate preparation process for 2nd electrode base materials in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, a porous layer formation process, a solid electrolyte layer formation process, and a cutting process. It is the schematic which shows shapes, such as a dye-sensitized solar cell element module in Example 1 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention will be described.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes a first electrode substrate having a first substrate and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first substrate, at least first Formed on one of a plurality of second electrode base materials having two electrode layers, the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a dye sensitizer, and the second electrode layer of the first electrode base or the second electrode base of the second electrode base. Of the electrode layers, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer, the first electrode layer, A dye-sensitized solar having the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer The other dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the first electrode layer of the one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. The second electrode layer is electrically connected, and the dye-sensitized solar cell element is disposed outside the end of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material. It has an end area | region provided with 1 base material, the said solid electrolyte layer, and the said 2nd electrode layer, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, since at least one of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode substrate serves as a sunlight receiving surface, the first electrode is usually used in the present invention. A substrate having transparency is used for at least one of the substrate and the second electrode substrate.

  Here, the transparency of the “substrate having transparency” is such that the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention receives sunlight so that it can function by receiving sunlight. Although it will not specifically limit if it is a grade which can permeate | transmit, it is desirable that it is 50% or more of total light transmittance. In addition, the said transparency is the value measured by the measuring method based on JISK7361-1: 1997.

  Moreover, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, the electrode layer in which the porous layer is formed is usually used as the oxide semiconductor electrode layer among the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer. The electrode layer in which the porous layer is not formed is used as a counter electrode layer.

  Further, in the present invention, “formed on the electrode layer” includes not only the case of being directly formed on the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer but also the case of being formed through another layer. It is a concept.

Here, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig.1 (a) is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of Fig.1 (a), FIG. 1 (c) is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 1 (b). In FIG. 1A, the region where the first electrode layer is formed is indicated by a dotted line.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 of the present invention is formed in a pattern on a single first base material 11 and the first base material 11. A first electrode substrate 10 having a plurality of first electrode layers 12 formed, a plurality of second electrode substrates 20 composed of a second electrode layer 22, and a dye formed on the surface of the second electrode layer 22. A plurality of porous layers 3 containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a sensitizer, and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers formed between the porous layer 3 and the first electrode layer 12 and including a redox pair 4. In the present invention, the catalyst layer 5 may be formed between the first electrode layer 12 and the solid electrolyte layer 4.
Although not shown, in the present invention, a porous layer may be formed on the surface of the first electrode layer.

  1 (a) and 1 (b), the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 of the present invention includes a first electrode layer 12, a catalyst layer 5, a solid electrolyte layer 4, a porous layer 3, And a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements 1 having the second electrode layer 22 are connected, and the first electrode layer 12 of one dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 and the one dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 are combined. The second electrode layer 22 of another dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 adjacent to the sensitive solar cell element 1 is electrically connected. In FIG. 1 (a), a connection part a including the end of the short side of the stripe of the first electrode layer 12 formed in a stripe shape, and a strip of each second electrode layer 22 formed in a strip shape. The first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 are inside the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 in the connection portion b (the portion indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. It shows an example connected with.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.1 (c), as for the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 of this invention, the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is the edge of the 1st electrode layer 12 of the 1st electrode base material 10. As shown in FIG. It has an end region S including the first base material 11, the solid electrolyte layer 4, and the second electrode layer 22 outside the part x1.

2 (a) is a schematic plan view showing another example of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 2 (a). FIG.2 (c) is an enlarged view of D section of FIG.2 (b).
The dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B includes a connection portion a including the end of the long side of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12 and each second electrode layer 22. In the connection part b including the end of the long side of the strip, an example in which the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 are connected inside the dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 is shown.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 2C, the end region is located outside the end x1 of the long side opposite to the end of the long side where the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 11 is provided. S is provided.
2A to 2C can be the same as those in FIGS. 1A to 1C, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  According to the present invention, since the first electrode layer is not formed in the end region of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are not opposed to each other. Since the solid electrolyte layer is disposed in the end region, the contact between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer in one dye-sensitized solar cell element can be suitably prevented. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the said dye-sensitized solar cell element hard to produce an internal short circuit. Further, by using the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made to have high performance.

  In addition, according to the present invention, by having a solid electrolyte layer, it is not necessary to use a sealing member or the like for sealing a liquid electrolyte in a conventional dye-sensitized solar cell element module. Can be made wider, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Therefore, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be excellent in power generation efficiency and high in productivity.

  The details of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described below.

I. End region The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention has an end region including a first substrate, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer outside the end portion of the first electrode layer. To do.

  Here, since the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention is formed on the first substrate, the first substrate is usually provided in the entire end region.

  The end region is a region from the end of the first electrode layer to the end of the second electrode layer disposed outside the end of the first electrode layer, that is, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer Is a region including an electrode layer non-opposing region that is not opposed.

In the end region, it is possible to dispose a solid electrolyte layer at an arbitrary position between the second electrode layer disposed outside the end portion of the first electrode layer and the first base material.
Hereinafter, the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in the end region will be described.

1. Arrangement of Solid Electrolyte Layer The arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in the end region is a position that can be arranged outside the end of the first electrode layer, and can be arranged between the first base material and the second electrode layer. If it is a position, it will not specifically limit. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the end region S, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is in the electrode layer non-facing region T, that is, from the end x1 of the first electrode layer 12 to the end of the first electrode layer 12. It may be arranged in a region inside the region up to the end portion x2 of the second electrode layer 22 arranged outside the portion x1, and as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the solid electrolyte layer 4 in the end region S. 3 may be disposed in the electrode layer non-opposing region T, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is located outside the electrolyte layer non-opposing region T and the electrolyte layer non-opposing region T in the end region S. You may arrange | position to the area | region to include.

  Here, in the end region in the present invention, it is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer is disposed at the end of the second electrode layer. In the dye-sensitized solar cell element, an internal short circuit is likely to occur due to contact between the end portion of the first electrode layer and the end portion of the second electrode layer. Therefore, a solid electrolyte layer is formed at the end portion of the second electrode layer. By being formed, it becomes possible to more effectively prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is made higher. Because it can.

In the present invention, “the solid electrolyte layer is disposed at the end of the second electrode layer”
It means that the solid electrolyte layer is disposed so that the end of the solid electrolyte layer exists within a range from 1 mm inside of the end of the second electrode layer to 1 mm outside of the end.

  Therefore, as the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer 4 in the end region S, it is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer is arranged at least at the end of the second electrode layer. Specifically, as shown in FIG. The solid electrolyte layer 4 is preferably disposed in the electrode layer non-facing region T or in a region including the outside of the electrode layer non-facing region T and the electrode layer non-facing region T as shown in FIG. .

In addition, as the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer on the outside of the first electrode layer in plan view, an end region can be provided on at least a part of the outside of the first electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention. It does not specifically limit but it selects suitably by the position on planar view of an edge area | region.
Specifically, when the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention is viewed in plan, it may be continuously disposed in the electrode layer non-opposing region described above, or may be disposed in a predetermined pattern. .

2. Next, the position of the end region in plan view will be described.
The position of the end region in the present invention in plan view is a position where the solid electrolyte layer and the second electrode layer can be disposed on the first base material outside the end portion of the first electrode layer, And if it is a position which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of the internal short circuit in a dye-sensitized solar cell element, it will not specifically limit. Usually, it is appropriately selected depending on the pattern shape of the first electrode layer.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the end region S may be provided continuously along the end of the first electrode layer 12, and as shown in FIG. May be provided discontinuously along the end of the first electrode layer 12.

In the present invention, “the end region is continuously provided along the end of the first electrode layer” means that the pattern shape of the first electrode layer is, for example, a plurality of stripes, rectangles, polygons, and the like. In the case of a shape having a side, it means that an end region is continuously provided at an end of at least one side among a plurality of sides.
On the other hand, when the pattern shape of the first electrode layer is a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a shape having an end side made of a continuous curve, it means that the end region is continuously provided on the end side. .
“Consecutively formed” means not only the case where the end region is continuously provided on at least one end or all sides, but also at least one end or end. The case where the end region is continuously provided except for a part of the case is included.

In the present invention, “the end region is provided discontinuously along the end portion of the first electrode layer” means that the end region is provided at predetermined intervals along the end portion of the first electrode layer. Point to.
Specifically, it indicates that the solid electrolyte layer is arranged at predetermined intervals along the end portion of the first electrode layer. In this case, a porous layer or a catalyst layer formed as necessary may be arranged at predetermined intervals along the end of the first electrode layer. In addition, the second electrode layer is usually continuously arranged in the end region.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic plan views showing an example of the first electrode substrate used in the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 (a). It is a figure for demonstrating the edge area | region in the dye-sensitized sensitizing solar cell element module of a various structure.
Also, reference numerals not described in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be the same as those in FIG. 1A and the like, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present invention, the end region is preferably provided continuously along the end of the first electrode layer. Since the solid electrolyte layer can be continuously disposed together with the second electrode layer disposed along the edge of the first electrode layer, the occurrence of an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element is more effectively achieved. It becomes possible to prevent.

  Here, the pattern shape of the first electrode layer in the present invention is preferably a stripe shape. Therefore, the position of the end region in plan view will be described below by taking as an example the case where the pattern shape of the first electrode layer is a stripe shape. The pattern shape of the first electrode layer will be described in detail in the section “II. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module” described later.

  When the pattern shape of the first electrode layer of the present invention is a stripe shape, the end region is at least one of two short side ends or two long side ends of each stripe of the first electrode layer. Although it will not specifically limit if provided in the edge part of a side, It is preferable to be provided in the edge part of the long side of each stripe of a 1st electrode layer at least.

Here, the shape of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can exhibit excellent workability with respect to bending when a flexible substrate is used as the first substrate. This is the shape. In addition, when a plurality of first electrode layers are formed in a stripe shape on the first substrate, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention has workability in the arrangement direction of each stripe of the first electrode layer. Greatly improved. Therefore, in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, the distance between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is easily changed at the end of the long side of the stripe of the first electrode layer. There is concern that an internal short circuit is likely to occur due to contact of the electrode layers.
Therefore, by providing an end region at the end of the long side of each stripe of the first electrode layer, it is possible to more effectively prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element.

  When the end region is provided at the end of the long side of the stripe of the first electrode layer, as shown in FIG. 4A, the end of the two long sides of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12 An end region S may be provided in the first electrode layer 12, and an end region S may be provided at the end of one long side of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12, as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing another example of the first electrode substrate used in the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, and the dye having the configuration shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st electrode base material used for a sensitized solar cell element module.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, an end region S may be further provided along the end portion of at least one short side of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12. Although not shown, An end region may not be provided at the end portion including the short side of each stripe of the electrode layer.

Here, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are connected inside the dye-sensitized solar cell module. In this case, the pattern shape of the first electrode layer is preferably a pattern shape having a connection portion a with the second electrode layer as shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b) and FIG. .
In this case, as shown in FIG. 4A, an end region may be provided outside the end portion included in the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12, and FIG. 4B and FIG. As shown, the end region may not be provided outside the end portion included in the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12.
Especially in this invention, it is preferable that an edge area | region is not provided in the outer side of the edge part contained in the connection part of a 1st electrode layer. When the end region is provided outside the end portion included in the connection portion of the first electrode layer, the solid electrolyte layer is disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. This is because it may cause defects.

3. End region As a method for adjusting the end region in the present invention, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element, the end region can be adjusted so as to be the position in the above-described plan view and the position of the longitudinal section. There is no particular limitation as long as it is present. Usually, the pattern shape of the first electrode layer, the shape of the solid electrolyte layer, and the second electrode substrate having the second electrode layer according to the application, shape, etc. of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention. The end region is adjusted by appropriately adjusting the shape and the like.

  Further, the end region in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the first electrode layer does not exist and is provided with the first base material, the solid electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer, and has a configuration other than the above. It may be. Examples of such a structure include a porous layer and a catalyst layer formed as necessary.

II. Configuration of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element Module A dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes a single first base material and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first base material. A first electrode substrate having a plurality of second electrode substrates having at least a second electrode layer, a first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate, or a second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles formed on any one of the electrode layers and carrying a dye sensitizer, and the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the first electrode layer. Of the second electrode layer of the two-electrode base material, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer. The first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer A plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements having a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, each of which is connected to the first electrode layer of the one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the other one adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. The second electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is electrically connected.

  Hereinafter, each structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described.

1. 1st electrode base material The 1st electrode base material in this invention has the 1st base material of 1 sheet, and the some 1st electrode layer formed in the pattern form on the said 1st base material.

As a 1st electrode base material, the base material which has transparency may be sufficient, and the base material which does not have transparency may be sufficient according to the light-receiving surface of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. Is to be selected.
When the second electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency, the first electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency or a substrate having no transparency. .
On the other hand, when the second electrode substrate is a substrate having no transparency, the first electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency.
Each will be described below.

(1) Substrate having transparency When the first electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency, the first electrode substrate is usually a transparent substrate as a first substrate and a first electrode layer. And a transparent electrode layer formed on the transparent substrate.

(A) 1st base material When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which has transparency, as above-mentioned, a transparent base material is used as a 1st base material.
The said transparent base material supports the transparent electrode layer mentioned later.

  As the transparent substrate, a transparent electrode layer to be described later can be formed, and has a self-supporting property capable of forming a dye-sensitized solar cell element constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. If it is a thing, it will not specifically limit, It may have flexibility and does not need to have flexibility.

  The “flexibility of the transparent substrate” in the present invention can be wound in a roll shape, and can impart desired processability to the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. If it is a moderate grade, it will not specifically limit. Specifically, the flexibility of the transparent substrate mentioned above refers to bending when a force of 5 KN is applied in the fine ceramic bending test method of JIS R1601.

  In the present invention, among them, it is preferable that the transparent substrate has flexibility. This is because the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made excellent in workability.

  As such a transparent substrate, specifically, an inorganic transparent substrate or a resin substrate can be used. Among these, the resin base is preferable because it is lightweight, has excellent processability, and can reduce manufacturing costs.

  Examples of the resin base material include ethylene / tetrafluoroethylene copolymer film, biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyetherimide (PEI). ), Polyimide (PI), polyester naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), and the like. In particular, in the present invention, biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester naphthalate. It is preferable to use a substrate made of a resin such as (PEN) or polycarbonate (PC).

  Examples of the inorganic transparent substrate include a synthetic quartz substrate and a glass substrate.

  Moreover, although the thickness of the transparent base material in this invention can be suitably selected according to the use etc. of the said dye-sensitized solar cell element module, it is usually in the range of 5 micrometers-2000 micrometers. In particular, it is preferably in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm, more preferably in the range of 25 μm to 200 μm.

Moreover, it is preferable that the transparent base material used for this invention is excellent in heat resistance, a weather resistance, water vapor | steam, and other gas barrier properties. This is because, when the transparent substrate has gas barrier properties, for example, the temporal stability of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention can be increased. In particular, in the present invention, the oxygen transmission rate is 1 cc / m ² / day · atm or less under conditions of a temperature of 23 ° C. and a humidity of 90%, and the water vapor transmission rate is 1 g under the conditions of a temperature of 37.8 ° C. and a humidity of 100%. It is preferable to use a transparent substrate having a gas barrier property of / m ² / day or less. In the present invention, in order to achieve such gas barrier properties, a material in which an arbitrary gas barrier layer is provided on the transparent substrate may be used. The oxygen permeability is a value measured using an oxygen gas permeability measuring device (manufactured by Modern Control Co., Ltd., OX-TRAN 2/20: trade name). The water vapor transmission rate is a value measured using a water vapor transmission rate measuring device (manufactured by Modern Control Co., Ltd., PERMATRAN-W 3/31: trade name).

(B) 1st electrode layer When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which has transparency, as above-mentioned, a transparent electrode layer is used as a 1st electrode layer.
The transparent electrode layer is formed in a pattern on the transparent substrate described above.

  The transparent electrode layer used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has transparency and predetermined conductivity. Examples of the material used for such a transparent electrode layer include metal oxides and conductive polymer materials.

Examples of the metal oxide include SnO ₂ , ZnO, a compound in which tin is added to indium oxide (ITO), a compound in which zinc oxide is added to indium oxide (IZO), and the like. In the present invention, any of these metal oxides can be suitably used. Among these, fluorine-doped SnO ₂ (hereinafter referred to as FTO) and ITO are preferably used. This is because FTO and ITO are excellent in both conductivity and sunlight permeability.
On the other hand, examples of the conductive polymer material include polythiophene, polyaniline (PA), polypyrrole, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), and derivatives thereof. Moreover, these can also be used in mixture of 2 or more types.

The total light transmittance of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is preferably 85% or more, more preferably 90% or more, and particularly preferably 92% or more. This is because when the total light transmittance of the transparent electrode layer is in the above range, light can be sufficiently transmitted through the transparent electrode layer, and light can be efficiently absorbed by the porous layer.
The total light transmittance is a value measured using an SM color computer (model number: SM-C) manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd. in the visible light region.

The sheet resistance of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is preferably 500Ω / □ or less, more preferably 300Ω / □ or less, and particularly preferably 50Ω / □ or less. This is because if the sheet resistance is larger than the above range, the generated charge may not be sufficiently transmitted to the external circuit.
In addition, the said sheet resistance is measured based on JIS R1637 (Resistance test method of fine ceramics thin film: Measurement method by 4 probe method) using a surface resistance meter (Loresta MCP: Four-terminal probe) manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. It is the value.

  The transparent electrode layer in the present invention may be composed of a single layer or may be composed of a plurality of layers laminated. Examples of the configuration in which a plurality of layers are stacked include a mode in which layers made of materials having different work functions are stacked, and a mode in which layers made of different metal oxides are stacked.

The thickness of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as desired conductivity can be realized in accordance with the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention. In particular, the thickness of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is usually preferably in the range of 5 nm to 2000 nm, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm. If the thickness is thicker than the above range, it may be difficult to form a homogeneous transparent electrode layer, or the total light transmittance may be lowered and it may be difficult to obtain good photoelectric conversion efficiency. If the thickness is thinner than the above range, the conductivity of the transparent electrode layer may be insufficient.
In addition, the said thickness shall point out the total thickness which totaled the thickness of all the layers, when a transparent electrode layer is comprised from a several layer.

  The pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be obtained, and is appropriately selected depending on the use, shape, etc. of the dye-sensitized solar cell module. Although it is a thing, it is preferable that it is striped. It is because it is easy to form when forming a transparent electrode layer in pattern shape. Moreover, it is because it becomes easy to form also about the 2nd electrode base material, porous layer, solid electrolyte layer, etc. which are formed with the pattern corresponding to the pattern of a transparent electrode layer.

In the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected inside the dye-sensitized solar cell module. In the case of connection (hereinafter sometimes referred to as internal connection), the pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer is preferably a pattern shape having a connection portion with the second electrode layer.
The connecting portion is not particularly limited as long as the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements can be internally connected, and the transparent electrode layer is in a stripe shape. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the connection portion a is a portion including the end portion of the short side of the stripe, and the connection portion a is the long side of the stripe as shown in FIG. It is preferable that it is a part containing an edge part.

  Even when the transparent electrode layer has a pattern shape other than the stripe shape, the connection portion is usually provided at a portion including the end portion of the first electrode layer formed in the pattern shape.

  A method for forming the transparent electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as the transparent electrode layer that can be used as a plurality of first electrode layers can be formed in a predetermined pattern on the above-described transparent substrate. For example, a method of forming the transparent electrode layer by using a vapor deposition method such as a sputtering method using a metal mask, or a method of forming the transparent electrode layer material film on the entire surface of the transparent substrate and etching it into a predetermined pattern Examples thereof include a method in which the transparent electrode layer material is a metal paste, and the metal paste is printed on a transparent substrate.

Moreover, the transparent electrode layer in this invention can also be laminated | stacked and used for an auxiliary electrode. Here, the auxiliary electrode is an electrode formed in a mesh shape using a conductive material. By using the auxiliary electrode together with the transparent electrode layer, the power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be increased.
Since the auxiliary electrode can be the same as that used for a general dye-sensitized solar cell element, description thereof is omitted here.

(2) Substrate not having transparency As the substrate on which the first electrode substrate does not have transparency, it does not exhibit transparency as described in the above-mentioned “substrate having transparency”. Although it will not specifically limit if it is a base material, Usually, it has a 1st base material and the metal layer formed in pattern shape on the 1st base material.

(A) First base material The first base material may be a transparent base material or a first base material having no transparency. About a transparent base material, since it can be made to be the same as that of what was described in the item of "(1) Base material which has transparency" mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.
On the other hand, a resin-made base material can be mentioned as a 1st base material which does not have transparency.
In addition, about the resin material used for a resin-made base material, since it can be made to be the same as that of the material used for the transparent resin-made base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  The specific thickness of the first base material that does not have transparency can be the same as that described in the above-mentioned section “(1) Base material having transparency”. Description of is omitted.

(B) 1st electrode layer When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which does not have transparency, as above-mentioned, a metal layer is used as a 1st electrode layer.
Further, the metal layer is not particularly limited as long as it can be formed in a predetermined pattern shape on the above-described first base material, but preferably has flexibility. It is because the workability of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be further enhanced by the flexibility of the metal layer.

  Specific examples of the metal used for the metal layer include copper, aluminum, titanium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, platinum, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, zinc, various stainless steels, and alloys thereof. Chromium, tungsten, various stainless steels and their alloys are desirable.

  Further, the thickness of the metal layer is not particularly limited as long as it functions as the first electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, but it is preferably within a range of 5 μm to 1000 μm, and preferably 10 μm to 500 μm. More preferably, it is in the range of 20 μm to 200 μm.

  About the pattern shape of the said metal layer, since it can be set as the same as the pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

The method for forming the metal layer can be the same as the method for forming a general metal layer.
For example, after a metal film is formed on the first substrate by vapor deposition or the like, a metal layer having a predetermined pattern shape is formed by etching, or pattern vapor deposition on the first substrate using a metal mask or the like. Examples of the method include forming a metal layer.

(3) Other configurations The first electrode base material is not particularly limited as long as it has the first base material and the first electrode layer, and may have other configurations as necessary.

  For example, when a porous layer described later is formed on the second electrode substrate side described later, it is preferable that a catalyst layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

The catalyst layer has a function that contributes to the improvement of the luminous efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module.
Examples of such a catalyst layer include, for example, an embodiment in which Pt is vapor-deposited on the first electrode layer, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), polypyrrole (PP), polyaniline (PA), derivatives thereof and these Although the aspect which forms a catalyst layer from a mixture can be mentioned, it is not this limitation.

  The film thickness of such a catalyst layer is preferably in the range of 5 nm to 500 nm, more preferably in the range of 10 nm to 300 nm, and particularly preferably in the range of 15 nm to 100 nm.

  The method for forming the catalyst layer is not particularly limited as long as the catalyst layer can be formed with a desired thickness on the first electrode layer described above. The method for forming a catalyst layer in a general dye-sensitized solar cell element and Since it can be the same, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  The catalyst layer is not particularly limited as long as it is formed on the first electrode layer facing the porous layer in the case of a dye-sensitized solar cell element, and is formed on the entire surface of the first electrode layer. Alternatively, it may be formed in a pattern on a part of the first electrode layer. When the catalyst layer is formed in a pattern, it is preferably formed so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern shape of the solid electrolyte layer described later. In addition, since the pattern shape of a solid electrolyte layer is mentioned later, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

(4) 1st electrode base material As a 1st electrode base material in this invention, although any of the base material which has transparency mentioned above and the base material which does not have transparency may be sufficient, it has transparency. A substrate is preferred.
Here, the porous layer described later is formed on the surface of either the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate described later.
Moreover, since it is preferable to use the formation method containing a baking process as a formation method of a porous layer, a metal base material is used as a 2nd electrode layer, and a porous layer is baked and formed on a metal base material. The method is preferably used.
Therefore, since it is preferable to use a substrate that does not have transparency as the second electrode substrate, the first electrode substrate in the present invention is preferably a substrate having transparency.

2. Second Electrode Base The second electrode base in the present invention has at least a second electrode layer.

The second electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency or a substrate having no transparency, and is appropriately selected depending on the light receiving surface of the solar cell element module of the present invention. .
When the first electrode substrate described above is a substrate having transparency, the second electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency, or a substrate having no transparency, Also good. On the other hand, when the first electrode substrate is a substrate that does not have transparency, a transparent substrate is used as the second electrode substrate.

  Such a second electrode substrate is not limited as long as it has a function as an electrode, and may be composed of a second electrode layer, and supports the second electrode layer and the second electrode layer. It may have a 2nd substrate for doing.

  When the said 2nd electrode base material consists of a 2nd electrode layer, a single metal layer, ie, a metal base material, is specifically used as a 2nd electrode base material.

  Moreover, as a metal base material, although it may have flexibility and does not need to have flexibility, it is preferable that it has flexibility. This is because the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made excellent in workability.

  In addition, as flexibility of a metal base material, specifically, the metal material bending test method of JIS Z 2248 indicates that it bends when a force of 5 KN is applied.

  About the metal used for the said metal base material, since it can be set as the same as the metal layer used for the 1st electrode base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  In addition, the thickness of the metal substrate can be made equal to the thickness of the metal layer used for the first electrode substrate described above.

On the other hand, when the second electrode substrate has the second electrode layer and the second substrate, the above-described transparent electrode layer or metal layer can be used as the second electrode layer. As the substrate, the above-described transparent substrate or resin substrate can be used.
In addition, as a 2nd electrode base material, the 2nd electrode layer is normally formed in the 2nd base material whole surface.

  About a transparent base material, a resin base material, a transparent electrode layer, and a metal layer, since it can be the same as that used for the 1st electrode base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

As a 2nd electrode base material, it can have another structure as needed.
For example, when a porous layer described later is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, it is preferable to form a catalyst layer on the second electrode layer.
Note that the catalyst layer can be the same as that described in the section of the first electrode base material, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  The second electrode base material in the present invention is more preferably a second electrode layer, that is, a metal base material. This is because a metal substrate can be used as the second electrode substrate, and the porous layer can be formed by firing on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.

In addition, the shape of the second electrode substrate is not particularly limited as long as the second electrode layers of the adjacent second electrode substrates do not contact each other in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. The shape of the second electrode substrate is usually such that the second electrode layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
Here, in the present invention, “the second electrode layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer” means each dye-sensitized solar cell constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. It means that the second electrode layer has a pattern that can be disposed to face each first electrode layer formed in a pattern so that the element has the second electrode layer.
More specifically, it means that one second electrode layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously arranged on one first electrode layer.

  In addition, when the pattern shape of the 1st electrode layer in this invention is stripe shape, it is preferable that it is a strip shape as a shape of a 2nd electrode base material.

As a method of forming the second electrode substrate, it is possible to form a second electrode substrate having a second electrode layer having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate described above. If it is a method, it will not specifically limit. For example, by cutting a single substrate for a second electrode base material capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode base materials used in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention into a desired shape, A method of forming a two-electrode substrate can be suitably used.
In addition, when the above-described forming method is used, for example, after a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer described later is continuously formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, the second electrode substrate is formed. By cutting the material substrate, a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material can be formed by a simple method.

3. Solid Electrolyte Layer The solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed, of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. And formed between the porous layers and containing a redox couple.

  Here, the solid electrolyte layer contains a redox couple and does not exhibit fluidity. There is no particular limitation as long as it has a hardness that can be held between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer without using a sealing member or the like. The solid electrolyte layer is an all-solid electrolyte layer in which only a solid material is used, or a quasi-solid electrolyte in which fine particles of an inorganic compound such as a metal oxide or a polymer compound such as rubber or resin are added to a liquid material ("Pseudo-solid electrolyte" is sometimes called "gel electrolyte layer").

Moreover, the solid electrolyte layer in this invention has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the 1st electrode layer of a 1st electrode base material normally.
In the present invention, “the solid electrolyte layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate” means that each dye sensitizing solar cell element module of the present invention is dye-sensitized. It means that the solid electrolyte layer has a pattern that can be formed on each first electrode layer formed in a pattern so that the sensitive solar cell element has a solid electrolyte layer.
More specifically, it means that one solid electrolyte layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously arranged on one first electrode layer.

(1) Material of solid electrolyte layer The material of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention contains a redox pair.

(A) Redox Pair The redox couple used for the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention will be described.
The redox couple used in the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used in the electrolyte layer of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Specifically, a combination of iodine and iodide and a combination of bromine and bromide are preferable. For example, as a combination of iodine and iodide, a combination of metal iodide such as LiI, NaI, KI, and CaI ₂ and I ₂ can be mentioned. Further, examples of the combination of bromine and bromide include a combination of a metal bromide such as LiBr, NaBr, KBr, and CaBr ₂ and Br ₂ .

  Moreover, as content of the said oxidation reduction pair, the ratio of the oxidation reduction pair which occupies for a solid electrolyte layer exists in the range of 1 mass%-50 mass%, especially within the range of 5 mass%-35 mass%. Is preferred.

(B) Other components In the solid electrolyte layer used in the present invention, necessary components can be appropriately added in addition to the above-described redox couple.
Hereinafter, such components will be described.

(I) Polymer Compound The solid electrolyte layer in the present invention preferably contains a polymer compound. It is also possible to increase the strength of the solid electrolyte layer.
Hereinafter, the polymer compound used in the solid electrolyte layer will be described.

  Examples of the polymer compound in the solid electrolyte layer include polyether, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid alkyl ester, polymethacrylic acid alkyl ester, polycaprolactone, polyhexamethylene carbonate, polysiloxane, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and polyacrylonitrile. Polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, polyhexafluoropropylene, polyfluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, a polymer having a main chain of polyacrylonitrile, or a copolymer of two or more of these monomer components is preferably used. Can do.

  Moreover, as a high molecular compound used for the said solid electrolyte layer, a cellulose resin can be mentioned. Since the cellulosic resin has high heat resistance, the electrolyte layer solidified with the cellulosic resin does not leak even at high temperatures and has high thermal stability. Specifically, cellulose such as cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, and cellulose triacetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose such as cellulose nitrate Examples thereof include cellulose ethers such as esters, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, benzylcellulose, cyanoethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose. Any of these cellulose resins may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

  Among cellulose resins, a cationic cellulose derivative is particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of compatibility with the electrolyte solution. The cationic cellulose derivative means a product obtained by cationization by reacting a cellulose or an OH group of the derivative with a cationizing agent. By containing the cationic cellulose derivative, it is possible to obtain a solid electrolyte layer that is excellent in retention of the electrolytic solution, and that has no leakage of the electrolytic solution, particularly at high temperature or under pressure, and excellent in thermal stability.

  The molecular weight of the cellulose-based resin as described above varies depending on the type of the cellulose-based resin and is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of obtaining good film-forming properties when forming the electrolyte layer, the mass average molecular weight is 10,000 or more. (Polystyrene conversion), and particularly preferably within the range of 100,000 to 200,000. For example, when ethyl cellulose is used as the cellulosic resin, it is a value obtained by dissolving ethyl cellulose at 2% by mass in water and measuring the viscosity at 30 ° C., within a range of 5 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s, particularly 10 mPa. -It is preferable to set it as the molecular weight which shows the viscosity in the range of s-500mPa * s.

  The glass transition temperature of the cellulose resin is preferably in the range of 80 ° C. to 150 ° C. in order to obtain sufficient thermal stability of the electrolyte layer.

  The polymer compound used in the present invention is preferably a transparent compound. When the polymer compound has transparency, the transparency of the solid electrolyte layer can be further improved. Further, by improving the transparency of the solid electrolyte layer, the appearance of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be improved. In addition, when the solid electrolyte layer penetrates into the porous layer, it is possible to prevent light from being blocked by the solid electrolyte layer, thereby improving the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. It becomes possible to make it.

  The content of such a polymer compound is appropriately set in consideration of the above because the thermal stability of the solid electrolyte layer is lowered when it is too low, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell is lowered when it is too high. The Specifically, it is preferable to contain 5 mass%-60 mass% in the material which comprises a solid electrolyte layer. If the polymer compound in the material constituting the solid electrolyte layer has a proportion lower than the above range, sufficient adhesion to the porous layer described later may not be obtained, and the solid electrolyte layer itself This is not preferable because it may lead to a decrease in the mechanical strength. On the other hand, if the ratio is higher than the above range, a large amount of insulating polymer compound is present, which is not preferable because the function of transporting charges may be hindered.

(Ii) Other components The solid electrolyte layer in this invention can contain arbitrary components other than the polymeric compound mentioned above. An example of such a component is an ionic liquid.

(2) Solid electrolyte layer The thickness of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is preferably in the range of 10 nm to 100 μm, more preferably in the range of 1 μm to 50 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 5 μm to 30 μm. This is because when the thickness of the solid electrolyte layer is less than the above range, the solid electrolyte layer does not function sufficiently and the power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module may be reduced. Moreover, it is because it will become difficult to form the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention in a thin film, when the film thickness of the said solid electrolyte layer exceeds the said range.

  Moreover, as a shape of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention, it is possible to dispose the solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention and in the end region described above. Is not particularly limited as long as it can have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate described above. Usually, it adjusts suitably with the pattern shape of a 1st electrode layer.

  Here, in order to increase the power generation efficiency in the dye-sensitized solar cell element, it is preferable that the area contributing to power generation is large in the dye-sensitized solar cell element. Therefore, the shape of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is preferably such that the area disposed on the opposing surface of the first electrode layer is large.

  More specifically, when the pattern shape of the first electrode layer is a stripe shape, the shape of the solid electrolyte layer is such that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the first electrode layer. It is preferable that This is because, when the solid electrolyte layer has the above-described shape, it is possible to dispose the solid electrolyte layer in a sufficient area on the opposing surface of the first electrode layer and form the solid electrolyte layer in the end region.

The “width of the first electrode layer” in the present invention means from the end of the first electrode layer where the end region is provided to the end of the first electrode layer facing the end of the first electrode layer. The distance is indicated, and the distance indicated by U in FIGS. 1C, 3A, and 3B is indicated.
Further, in the present invention, the "width of the solid electrolyte layer" means the distance from the end of the solid electrolyte layer located in the end region to the end of the solid electrolyte layer and the end of the solid electrolyte layer facing, 1 (c), the distance indicated by V in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

  In addition, as described above, since the solid electrolyte layer is preferably disposed at the end of the second electrode layer in the end region in the present invention, the width of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is the second electrode layer. It is preferable that the width is equal to or larger than the width of the second electrode layer.

  In the present invention, the “width of the second electrode layer” means from the end of the second electrode layer located in the end region to the end of the second electrode layer facing the end of the second electrode layer. The distance is indicated, and the distance indicated by W in FIGS. 1C, 3A, and 3B is indicated.

In addition, when the 1st electrode layer or 2nd electrode layer used with the said solid electrolyte layer has a connection part for making internal connection with the 1st electrode layer or 2nd electrode layer of an adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element The shape of the solid electrolyte layer is usually such that the solid electrolyte layer is not disposed at the connection portion of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer described above.
Further, it is more preferable that the solid electrolyte layer is not disposed outside the end portion of the first electrode layer included in the connection portion. This is because the solid electrolyte layer has an insulating function, which may hinder the connection between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

The method for forming the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the solid electrolyte layer can be formed so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate. The method of apply | coating the material of the solid electrolyte layer mentioned above using the typical apply | coating method can be mentioned.
The solid electrolyte layer may be formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material, or may be formed on the second electrode layer side of the second electrode base material.

Here, when the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is equal to the width of the second electrode layer, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to form the solid electrolyte layer 4 on the two-electrode layer 22.
As described above, the second electrode base material can be formed by cutting the second electrode base material substrate. Therefore, a solid electrolyte having a width equivalent to the width of the second electrode layer is obtained by continuously forming the solid electrolyte layer on the second electrode substrate in advance and then cutting the second electrode substrate. This is because the layer can be formed by a simple forming method.

  On the other hand, when the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the second electrode layer, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is usually the first as shown in FIG. A pattern is formed on the first electrode layer 12 of the electrode substrate 10.

  Moreover, when the porous layer is formed on the electrode layer on the side on which the solid electrolyte layer is formed, the solid electrolyte layer is usually formed on the entire porous layer.

4). Porous layer The porous layer in the present invention is formed on the surface of either the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, and is dye-sensitized. It contains metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying an agent.

Moreover, the porous layer in this invention has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the 1st electrode layer of a 1st electrode base material normally.
In the present invention, “the porous layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate” means that each dye sensitizing solar cell module of the present invention is dye-sensitized. It indicates that the porous layer has a pattern that can be formed on the surface of each first electrode layer formed in a pattern so that the sensitive solar cell element has a porous layer.
More specifically, it means that one porous layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously formed on one first electrode layer.

Hereinafter, the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles and the dye sensitizer used in the porous layer will be described.

(A) Metal oxide semiconductor fine particle The metal oxide semiconductor fine particle is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics. Examples of the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles include TiO ₂ , ZnO, SnO ₂ , ITO, ZrO ₂ , MgO, Al ₂ O ₃ , CeO ₂ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , Mn ₃ O ₄ , Y ₂ O ₃ , WO ₃ , Ta ₂ O ₅ , Nb ₂ O ₅ , La ₂ O _{3 and the} like can be mentioned.
In particular, in the present invention, it is most preferable to use metal oxide semiconductor fine particles made of TiO ₂ . This is because TiO ₂ is particularly excellent in semiconductor characteristics.

The average particle diameter of the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles is usually preferably in the range of 1 nm to 10 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm.
The average particle size of the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles means the primary particle size.

(B) Dye sensitizer The dye sensitizer is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb light and generate an electromotive force. Examples of such a dye sensitizer include organic dyes and metal complex dyes. Examples of the organic dyes include acridine, azo, indigo, quinone, coumarin, merocyanine, phenylxanthene, indoline, and carbazole dyes. In the present invention, among these organic dyes, a coumarin dye is preferably used. Further, as the metal complex dye, it is preferable to use a ruthenium dye, and it is particularly preferable to use a ruthenium bipyridine dye and a ruthenium terpyridine dye which are ruthenium complexes. This is because such a ruthenium complex has a wide wavelength range of light to be absorbed, so that the wavelength range of light that can be photoelectrically converted can be greatly expanded.

(C) Optional component The porous layer may contain an optional component in addition to the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles. As an arbitrary component in this invention, resin can be mentioned, for example. It is because the brittleness of the porous layer in the present invention can be improved by containing the resin in the porous layer.

  Examples of the resin that can be used for the porous layer in the present invention include polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, caprolactam, and the like.

(D) Porous layer The thickness of the porous layer in this invention can be suitably determined according to the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, and is not specifically limited. In particular, the thickness of the porous layer in the present invention is usually preferably in the range of 1 μm to 100 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 3 μm to 30 μm.

  The porous layer in the present invention is formed on either the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.

  The shape of the porous layer and the formation position of the porous layer can be the same as the shape of the solid electrolyte layer and the formation position of the solid electrolyte layer described in the above section of the solid electrolyte layer. Description of is omitted.

(2) Formation method of porous layer As a formation method of the porous layer in the present invention, a desired thickness is formed on the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode substrate or on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. The method is not particularly limited as long as it can form a porous layer.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable to form a porous layer on the 2nd electrode layer of a 2nd electrode base material. In this case, a porous layer having a desired shape can be formed by continuously forming a porous layer on the second electrode substrate and then cutting the second electrode substrate. This is because the porous layer can be formed by a simpler method than when the porous layer is formed in a pattern on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

In addition, as a formation method of a porous layer, the following method can be mentioned more specifically.
First, a coating liquid for forming a porous layer comprising at least the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles, a binder resin, and a solvent described above is prepared. Next, using the metal layer as the second electrode layer, the porous layer forming coating solution prepared on the metal layer is applied with a desired film thickness to form a porous layer forming coating film, The porous layer forming layer is formed by firing the porous layer forming coating film and thermally decomposing the binder resin. Next, the porous layer is formed by attaching the above-described dye sensitizer to the surface of the porous layer forming layer.
The binder resin and the solvent used in the porous layer forming coating solution can be the same as those used in a general porous layer forming method, and thus description thereof is omitted here. Moreover, as a coating liquid for porous layer formation, a dispersing agent can also be added as needed other than the component mentioned above.
Moreover, since it can be made to be the same as that of the thing used with the formation method of a general porous layer also about the application method of a coating liquid for porous layer formation, baking conditions, etc., description here is abbreviate | omitted.

Moreover, as a formation method of a porous layer, it is also possible to use the following method.
First, the porous layer forming composition including the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles and the solvent described above is applied on the second electrode layer and dried to form the porous layer forming layer, and then the porous layer forming layer is formed. A porous layer is formed by attaching a dye sensitizer to the layer. The solvent used in the porous layer forming composition, the coating method of the porous layer forming composition, and the drying conditions are the same as those used in the general porous layer forming method. The description here is omitted.
This method can also be used when a porous layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

Moreover, as a formation method of a porous layer, it is also possible to use the following method.
Using a method similar to the method of firing and forming the porous layer on the second electrode layer described above, after forming the release layer on the heat-resistant substrate, the porous layer is disposed on the release layer, A porous layer is formed by bonding to the second electrode layer and then peeling off the heat-resistant substrate.
This method can also be used when a porous layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

5. Dye-sensitized solar cell element The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention includes the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer described above. The dye-sensitized solar cell element has the end region described above.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-described configurations and has the end regions described above, but the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell device However, it is preferable to have a layer structure in which the first electrode layer / solid electrolyte layer / porous layer / second electrode layer are laminated in this order. This is because by making the layer structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element the above-described layer structure, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be made highly productive.

6). Dye-sensitized solar cell element module The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is composed of the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the above-mentioned one of the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell elements. One electrode layer and the second electrode layer of another dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as at least one dye-sensitized solar cell element has the end region described above among the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements. Usually, a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell element module have the end regions described above.

Further, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes the first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the other dye-sensitized solar cells adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. The second electrode layer of the sensitive solar cell element is electrically connected.
As a method of connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to each other in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module are electrically connected. There is no particular limitation as long as the method is possible. For example, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are directly in contact with each other, or a conductive layer is formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer and connected. And a method of electrically connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements from the outside using a conductive wire or the like. it can.

  In the present invention, it is more preferable to use a method of internally connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements. This is because the connection method is simpler than the method of electrically connecting outside the dye-sensitized solar cell module.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to use a method in which a conductive layer is formed and connected between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements. This is because poor connection in the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be prevented more suitably.
As a material for the conductive layer, a general conductive adhesive or the like can be used.

  Further, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention may be one dye-sensitized solar cell element module configured by connecting a plurality of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements described above. It may be a dye-sensitized solar cell element module that is a combination of a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules that are combined and connected to increase the size.

7). Other Configurations The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-described configurations, and a necessary configuration can be appropriately selected and added. As such a configuration, a transparent resin film or metal that is disposed on the first electrode base and the second electrode base of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module and packages the dye-sensitized solar cell element module A laminate form can be mentioned.

III. Method for Producing Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element Module As a method for producing the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, any method that can produce the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be used. Although not limited, the manufacturing method demonstrated below can be used suitably, for example.

  As a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell element module suitably used in the present invention, a first electrode base is formed by forming a plurality of first electrode layers on a first base to form a first electrode base. A material forming step, a second electrode substrate substrate preparing step for preparing a single second electrode substrate substrate capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode substrates, and the first electrode layer or the first electrode layer. A porous layer forming step of forming a porous layer on the surface of any one of the two electrode layers, and a pattern of the first electrode layer with a solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate A solid electrolyte layer forming step of performing any one of a step of forming a pattern corresponding to the above, or a step of continuously forming the solid electrolyte layer on the second electrode layer side of the second electrode substrate, By cutting the substrate for the second electrode base material, A cutting step of forming the second electrode base material, the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material and the second electrode layer side of the second electrode base material facing each other, and the solid electrolyte layer A bonding step of bonding the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate by adhering to each other as an interface, the first electrode layer of the one dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the one dye increasing A connecting step of electrically connecting the second electrode layer of the other dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the sensitive solar cell element.

  Here, the manufacturing method of the said dye-sensitized solar cell element module is demonstrated using figures. 6 (a) to 6 (d) and FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (e) are process diagrams showing an example of a method for producing the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. It is a figure shown about the example which manufactures the dye-sensitized solar cell element module shown to (c).

First, the said 1st electrode base material formation process is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the first electrode base material forming step, the first electrode layer 12 is continuously formed on the first base material 11. In the first electrode base material forming step, the catalyst layer 5 may be formed. In this case, the catalyst layer 5 is continuously formed and laminated on the first electrode layer 12. 6A shows an example of the first base material 11 in which the first electrode layer 12 and the catalyst layer 5 are continuously formed from the top surface, and FIG. 6B shows the example of FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the first electrode layer 12 and the catalyst layer 5 are patterned into a predetermined pattern by an etching process or the like, thereby forming the first electrode layer 12 on the first substrate 11. Then, the first electrode substrate 10 having a plurality of first electrode layers 12 and catalyst layers 5 formed in a pattern is formed. In FIG. 6C, the first electrode layer 12 and the catalyst layer 5 are formed in a stripe shape, and each of the first electrode layers 12 and the catalyst layer 5 includes a connection portion a including an end portion of the short side of the stripe. An example formed so as to have
In addition, in FIG.6 (c), an example of the 1st electrode base material 10 formed by the said 1st electrode base material formation process is shown from the upper surface, FIG.6 (d) shows E of FIG.6 (c). '-E' line cross section is shown.

  Although not shown, in the first electrode substrate forming step, the first electrode layer may be directly formed in a pattern on the first substrate by vapor deposition using a metal mask or the like.

Next, the second electrode substrate substrate preparation step and the porous layer forming step will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the second electrode substrate substrate preparation step, a second electrode substrate 20 ′ having the second electrode layer 22 is prepared. Next, in the porous layer forming step, the porous layer 3 is continuously formed on the second electrode layer 22. In addition, when connecting the 1st electrode layer and 2nd electrode layer of an adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element in the connection process mentioned later, the 2nd electrode cut out from the board | substrate 20 'for 2nd electrode base materials It is preferable that the porous layer 3 is continuously formed on a portion of the base material 20 other than the portion b ′ that becomes the connection portion b (see FIG. 7E) of the second electrode layer 22.
FIG. 7A shows an example of the second electrode base material substrate on which the porous layer 3 is formed by the porous layer forming step, and FIG. 7B shows an example of FIG. The FF sectional view of a) is shown.

  Although not shown, in the porous layer forming step, a porous layer may be formed on the first electrode layer.

Next, the solid electrolyte layer forming step will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, in the solid electrolyte layer forming step, the solid electrolyte layer containing a redox pair is formed on the porous layer 3 of the second electrode substrate 20 ′ described above. 4 is formed continuously.
In FIG. 7C, an example of the second electrode substrate 20 ′ having the solid electrolyte layer 4 formed thereon is shown from the top, and in FIG. 7D, F ′ in FIG. 7C is shown. -F 'line cross section is shown.

  Although not illustrated, in the solid electrolyte layer forming step, the solid electrolyte layer may be formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer.

Next, the cutting process will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7E, in the cutting step, the second electrode substrate 20 is formed by cutting the second electrode substrate 20 'into a desired shape. In FIG.7 (e), when it is set as the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, it becomes the shape where the adjacent 2nd electrode base material 20 does not contact, and the solid electrolyte layer formed on the 2nd electrode base material 20 4 shows an example in which the second electrode substrate 20 is formed so that the width of 4 is larger than the width of the first electrode layer shown in FIG.

Next, the said bonding process and connection process are demonstrated.
In the bonding step, the catalyst layer 5 formed on the plurality of first electrode layers 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 shown in FIG. 6 (d) and the plurality of second layers shown in FIG. 7 (e). The porous layer 3 formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the electrode substrate 20 is opposed to the solid electrolyte layer 4 as an interface. Thereby, in this process, the structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 shown by Fig.1 (a)-(c) can be obtained.
In the connecting step, for example, the catalyst layer 5 formed on the plurality of first electrode layers 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 shown in FIG. 6D and the plurality of the layers shown in FIG. When the porous layer 3 formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode substrate 20 is opposed and the solid electrolyte layer 4 is bonded as an interface, each stripe of the first electrode layer 12 is short. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), by directly contacting the connection part a including the edge part of the side and the connection part b including the edge part of the short side of the second electrode layer 22, adjacent dye increases. The first electrode layer 11 and the second electrode layer 22 of the sensitive solar cell element 1 can be electrically connected.

  In addition, as above-mentioned, when connecting the 1st electrode layer and 2nd electrode layer of an adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element inside a dye-sensitized solar cell element module, the bonding process mentioned above and The connecting process can be performed simultaneously.

  Hereinafter, each step will be described.

First electrode base material forming step The first electrode base material forming step is a step of forming the first electrode base material by forming a plurality of first electrode layers on the first base material.

  The form of the first substrate used in this step is not particularly limited as long as a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be obtained. It is more preferable that it is a long base material having flexibility. When the first base material is in the above-described form, a porous layer or a solid electrolyte layer is formed on the first electrode base material side in this step, a porous layer forming step or a solid electrolyte layer forming step described later. This is because the process can be performed by a roll-to-roll (R to R) process, so that the production can be performed with high production efficiency.

  About the 1st base material used for this process, the material of the 1st electrode layer, the formation method of the 1st electrode layer, and the 1st electrode base material formed, "II. Dye-sensitized solar cell module mentioned above" Since it can be the same as that described in the section of “No.”, description thereof is omitted here.

2. Second electrode base material substrate preparation step The second electrode base material substrate preparation step is a step of preparing one second electrode base material substrate capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode base materials. .

  The form of the substrate for the second electrode base material prepared in this step is not particularly limited as long as it can obtain a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module. It is more preferable that it is a long base material having flexibility that is wound into a shape. The step of forming the porous layer or the solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode substrate side in the porous layer forming step or the solid electrolyte layer forming step described later, since the second electrode substrate substrate is in the above-described form. This is because manufacturing can be performed with high manufacturing efficiency.

  Specifically, the substrate for the second electrode base material prepared in this step can cut out the second electrode base material described in the above-mentioned section “II. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module”. As long as the substrate is not particularly limited, the material, thickness, etc. used for the substrate for the second electrode substrate can be the same as those described in the section of the second electrode substrate. The description in is omitted.

3. Porous layer forming step The porous layer forming step is a step of forming a porous layer on the surface of either the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer.

  Regarding the material of the porous layer used in this step, the method for forming the porous layer, and the porous layer formed by this step, the porous material described in “II. Structure of dye-sensitized solar cell module” described above is used. Since it can be the same as that described in the section of the layer, description here is omitted.

  In this step, it is preferable to form the porous layer using an R to R process. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture with high manufacturing efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention.

4). Solid electrolyte layer forming step The solid electrolyte layer forming step is a step of forming the solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer, or the above It is a step of performing any one of the steps of continuously forming the solid electrolyte layer on the second electrode layer side of the second electrode substrate.

  In addition, as a material of the solid electrolyte layer used in this step, a desired solid electrolyte layer can be formed, and the first electrode substrate and the second electrode are interposed via the solid electrolyte layer in the bonding step described later. Although it will not specifically limit if an electrode base material can be bonded, It is preferable that it contains a redox pair and a high molecular compound.

  Regarding the material of the solid electrolyte layer used in this step, the method of forming the solid electrolyte layer, and the solid electrolyte layer formed by this step, the solid electrolyte of “II. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module” described above is used. Since it can be the same as that described in the section of the layer, description here is omitted.

  In this step, it is preferable to form the porous layer using an R to R process. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture with high manufacturing efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention.

5. Cutting Step The cutting step is a step of forming the plurality of second electrode base materials by cutting the second electrode base material substrate.

  As a shape of the 2nd electrode base material formed by this process, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, it is a shape where adjacent 2nd electrode base materials do not contact, and 2nd electrode layer is The shape is not particularly limited as long as it can have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, and is appropriately selected and determined depending on the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell module. be able to.

  Moreover, when the porous layer and solid electrolyte layer mentioned above are formed on the 2nd electrode base-material board | substrate, the porous layer and solid electrolyte layer which the 2nd electrode base material formed by this process normally has The second electrode base material substrate is cut so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer described above.

  The method for cutting the second electrode base material substrate used in this step is not particularly limited as long as it is a method capable of cutting out the second electrode base material having a desired shape from the second electrode base material substrate. First, a known method can be used.

6). Bonding step In the bonding step, the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate and the second electrode layer side of the second electrode substrate are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface. This is a step of bonding the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate.

  Moreover, in this process, a 1st electrode base material and a 2nd electrode base material are bonded so that it may have the edge area | region mentioned above outside the edge part of a 1st electrode layer.

In this step, when a porous layer is formed on the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode base material described above, the porous layer and the second electrode layer are opposed to each other to form a solid The electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface. On the other hand, when the porous layer is formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate described above, the first electrode layer and the porous layer are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is used as an interface. Let
Further, when the catalyst layer is formed on the electrode layer on the side where the porous layer is not formed, the porous layer and the catalyst layer are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface.

  The bonding method used in this step is not particularly limited as long as it is a bonding method capable of satisfactorily bringing the first electrode layer and the porous layer into close contact with the solid electrolyte layer as an interface. It is preferable to use a roll laminating method or a vacuum laminating method. It is because it is easy to bond so that air may not enter into the contact surface.

7). Connection Step The connection step includes the first electrode layer of one of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements and the first of the other dye-sensitized solar cell elements adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. This is a step of electrically connecting the two electrode layers.

  About the connection method of the 1st electrode layer and the 2nd electrode layer in this process, since it can be made to be the same as that of the method explained in the above-mentioned section of "II. Dye-sensitized solar cell element module", here Description is omitted.

8). Other Steps The manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module is not particularly limited as long as it is a manufacturing method having the above-described steps, and necessary steps can be appropriately selected and added.
As such a process, for example, after preparing a dye-sensitized solar cell element module, a transparent resin film or a metal laminate is formed on the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. A process of arranging and packaging the form can be exemplified.

  Further, for example, a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules are produced by performing the above-described steps, and a larger dye-sensitized solar cell is obtained by combining the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules. The process of forming a battery element module can be mentioned.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-described embodiment is an exemplification, and the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention has substantially the same configuration and exhibits the same function and effect regardless of the case. It is included in the technical scope of the invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples.

(Example)
<Preparation of first electrode substrate>
A transparent conductive film having an ITO film (first electrode layer) formed on a PEN film (first base material) is prepared, and platinum is laminated on the ITO film with a thickness of 13 mm (transmittance 72%) to form a catalyst layer. Formed. An insulating part is formed by laser scribing on the transparent conductive film on which the catalyst layer is formed, and the laminate of the ITO film and the catalyst layer is striped as shown in FIG. It patterned so that it might have the connection part a containing the edge part of a short side. The interval between the insulating portions was 100 mm in the long direction (portion indicated by h in FIG. 8A) and 12 mm in the short length direction (portion indicated by i in FIG. 8A).
The 1st electrode base material (counter electrode base material) was obtained by the above procedure.
FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining the shape of one first electrode layer formed in the first embodiment.

<Preparation of ink for forming porous layer>
5 g of porous titanium oxide fine particles (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name: P25) were added to 16.7 g of ethanol, and 0.25 g of acetylacetone and 20 g of zirconia beads (φ1.0 mm) were added to a paint shaker. And 0.25 g of polyvinylpyrrolidone (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., trade name: K-30) was added as a binder to prepare an ink for forming a porous layer.

<Formation of porous layer>
The produced porous layer forming ink was applied on a titanium foil serving as the second electrode base material substrate in an area of 10 cm width by a doctor blade method to form a porous layer forming layer. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the porous layer forming layer is not coated with the porous forming ink, and only the titanium foil is present (the first coated portion) A connecting portion b) of the two-electrode substrate 20 ′ was provided.
After that, by drying at 120 ° C., a 9 μm thick layer containing a large number of fine titanium oxide particles was formed. A pressure of 0.1 t / cm ² was applied to the titanium oxide fine particle layer with a press. After pressing, it was baked at 500 ° C. for 30 minutes.

Next, an organic dye (trade name: D358, manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) is used as a dye sensitizer, and the volume ratio of acetonitrile and tert-butyl alcohol is 1: 3 so that the concentration is 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / l. A dye-supporting coating solution was prepared by dissolving in 1 solution. The layer of titanium oxide fine particles formed on the above-mentioned second electrode substrate was immersed in this coating solution for 3 hours. Thereafter, the pigment-carrying coating solution was pulled up from the pigment-carrying coating solution, washed with acetonitrile, and then air-dried. Thereby, the sensitizing dye was supported on the pore surfaces of the titanium oxide fine particles to form a porous layer.

<Preparation of coating solution for forming solid electrolyte layer>
0.043 g of potassium iodide was added to a solution prepared by dissolving 0.14 g of cationic hydroxycellulose (manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., trade name: Gelner QH200) in 2.72 g of ethanol, and the mixture was dissolved by stirring. Next, 0.18 g of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMIm-B (CN) 4), 0.5 g of 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PMIm-I), And 0.025 g of I ₂ was added and dissolved by stirring. This prepared the coating liquid for solid electrolyte layer formation which can be coated.

<Formation of solid electrolyte layer>
The solid electrolyte layer forming coating solution was applied onto the porous layer (10 cm width) by the doctor blade method and dried at 100 ° C. to form a solid electrolyte layer.

<Cutting of substrate for second electrode base material>
As shown in FIG. 7E, the substrate with the electrolyte layer was cut so as to have a strip-like shape and a connection portion b including an end portion of the short side of the second electrode layer 22. The width of the strip (the width indicated by j in FIG. 8B) was 10 mm.
This obtained the 2nd electrode base material (conductive base material).
In addition, FIG.8 (b) is a figure explaining the shape of one 2nd electrode base material formed in Example 1. FIG.

<Preparation of dye-sensitized solar cell module>
As shown in FIG.8 (c), after forming a conductive adhesive in the connection part b among the 2nd electrode base materials 20 cut out on the strip, the connection of the 1st electrode layer which a conductive adhesive adjoins is shown. The first electrode substrate 10 and the second electrode substrate 20 are bonded so that the region a is connected to the portion a and the region s indicated by the bold line in FIG. A sensitized solar cell element module 100 was produced.
In addition, FIG.8 (c) is a schematic plan view which shows the example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module produced in Example 1. FIG.

<Sealing>
The produced dye-sensitized solar cell module was sandwiched between fillers and laminated at 150 ° C. for sealing.

<Evaluation of battery performance>
About the produced dye-sensitized solar cell module, artificial sunlight (AM1.5, incident light intensity of 100 mW / cm ² ) is used as a light source, is incident from the counter electrode side, and a voltage is measured using a source measure unit (Keutley 2400 type). The current-voltage characteristics by application were measured. As a result, when the short-circuit current 23 (mA), the open circuit voltage 6.1 (V), the fill factor 0.24, and the maximum output 32 mW are shown, and the fluorescent lamp (500 lux) is used as the light source, the short-circuit current 0.25 ( mA), open circuit voltage 4.7 (V), fill factor 0.70, and maximum output 0.8 mW.
Moreover, when the obtained dye-sensitized solar cell module was bent 10 times, no internal short circuit occurred in each dye-sensitized solar cell element.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dye-sensitized solar cell element 3 ... Porous layer 4 ... Solid electrolyte layer 5 ... Catalyst layer 10 ... 1st electrode base material 11 ... 1st base material 12 ... 1st electrode layer 20 ... 2nd electrode base material 20 '... Second electrode substrate 100 ... Dye-sensitized solar cell module

Claims (1)

A first electrode substrate having a first substrate and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first substrate;
A plurality of second electrode substrates having at least a second electrode layer;
A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate and carrying a dye sensitizer; and
A plurality of solid electrolyte layers formed between the first electrode layer and the porous layer of the first electrode base material and containing a redox pair;
A plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements each having the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer are connected,
The first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the second electrode layer of another dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected A connected dye-sensitized solar cell module,
An end region in which the dye-sensitized solar cell element includes the first base material, the solid electrolyte layer, and the second electrode layer outside an end portion of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material. Have
The second electrode substrate is formed of only a metal layer ;
A dye-sensitized solar cell module , comprising no substrate that supports the plurality of second electrode base materials .

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