Abstract: A dye-sensitized photoelectric converter with enhanced light absorptance and photoelectric conversion efficiency is provided. The dye-sensitized photoelectric converter includes a transparent substrate (e.g., glass), a (negative) electrode composed of a transparent conductive layer such as FTO (fluorine-doped tin(IV) oxide SnO2), a semiconductor layer holding multiple types of photosensitizing dyes, an electrolyte layer, a counter (positive) electrode, a counter substrate, and a sealing medium (not illustrated). In some embodiments, the multiple types of photosensitizing dyes have minimum excitation energies that are different from one another. In some embodiments, the multiple types of dyes have steric configurations that are different relative to one another.

Abstract: Photoelectric conversion elements suitable for various applications and related components, and methods associated therewith, are described. A photoelectric conversion element may include a catalyst layer having at least two portions that are spaced from one another, and a current collector having a tip portion that extends toward or within the space between portions of the catalyst layer. A photoelectric conversion element may also include a semiconductor layer disposed a distance of between about 5 microns and about 20 microns away from the catalyst layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell which can obtain a high photoelectric conversion efficiency, which can be manufactured at a low cost, and which is superior in a design property, and a method of manufacturing the same. Dye supporting porous titanium oxide layers 2a to 2d are formed on a transparent conductive substrate 1 so as to display predetermined colors, respectively, and compose predetermined patterns, respectively, in accordance with selection of a thickness, a lamination structure, a particle diameter of titanium oxide fine particles, or a combination ratio of two or more kinds of titanium oxide fine particles when titanium oxide fine particles are composed of the two or more kinds of titanium oxide fine particles different in particle diameter from one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element and a method for manufacturing the same which provide a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element capable of solving the problem of decreasing the efficiency of photoelectric conversion over time and significantly improving durability, and a method for manufacturing the same, and also relates to an electronic apparatus. A dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element has a structure in which an electrolyte layer 7 is filled between a semiconductor layer 3 and a counter electrode 6. Z907 and dye A are bounded in different configurations as photosensitizing dyes to the semiconductor layer 3. The electrolyte layer 7 contains 3-methoxypropionitrile as a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device configured to make use of features in terms of design quality and flexibility of a dye-sensitized solar cell. A solar cell-cum-display unit 61 has both a function of a solar cell and a function of a display unit that displays a predetermined display body, allows a predetermined character string such as “PONY” to be indentified, generates electric power from illuminating light or sunlight, and stores the electric power in a storage battery 62. A light source 63 such as a fluorescent lamp radiates light to the solar cell-cum-display unit 61 by the electric power stored in the storage battery 63, whereby the features of the dye-sensitized solar cell can be made use of. The present invention is applicable to a device including a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional device in which it is possible to improve durability by inhibiting corrosion due to an electrolyte solution, and it is possible to reduce series resistance, and also relates to a method for producing the same. A functional device includes a transparent photoelectrode including a photoelectric substrate 11 and a photoelectrode layer 12a, a counter electrode substrate 18a composed of a metal, an electrolyte solution 15 filled in a space between the two substrates, a corrosion-resistant conductive layer 17a which is disposed on the counter electrode substrate and has corrosion resistance to the electrolyte solution, and a conductive catalyst layer 16. The counter electrode substrate is composed of any of Al, Cu, Ag, Au, and SUS; the corrosion-resistant conductive layer is composed of any of Ti, Cr, Ni, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Ta, W, In, Pt, and Hastelloy; and the conductive catalyst layer is composed of any of carbon, Tu, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, and conductive polymers.

Abstract: There are provided a dye-sensitized solar cell that achieves high photoelectric conversion efficiency, can be manufactured at low cost, and has excellent design properties and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell. Dye-carrying porous titanium oxide layers (2a to 2d) are formed on a transparent conductive substrate (1) such that a desired color is produced and a desired pattern is formed by selecting the type of a sensitizing dye, the thickness, the stacked structure, the particle size of the titanium oxide fine particles or, if the titanium oxide fine particles are composed of at least two types of titanium oxide fine particles having different particle sizes, the combination ratio of the at least two types of titanium oxide fine particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional device capable of providing a functional device such as a dye-sensitized solar cell or the like, which is capable of maintaining high characteristics, and a method for manufacturing the functional device. A dye-sensitized solar cell serving as a functional device includes a transparent substrate 12a on which a transparent conductive film 13a is formed; a substrate 12b on which a conductive film 13b is formed; an electrolyte solution 16 filled between the two substrates; an inner main seal 15a composed of a first ultraviolet-curable resin so as to seal the electrolyte solution and bond the two substrates together; and an outer main seal 17a composed of a second ultraviolet-curable resin so as to bond the two substrates together outside the inner main seal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device in which selective dye adsorption can be performed easily. In the step of a dye adsorbing process, a material unit 21 having partition walls of a predetermined shape is placed over semiconductor electrodes 121 to 123, which are a titanium oxide electrode. The material unit 21 is laminated by a UV cure adhesive. Dye solutions S1 to S3 obtained by dissolving each of three kinds of dyes of N719, Black dye, and D149, for example, into a CH3CN/t-BuOH mixed solution are put in each of sections divided by the partition walls. The material unit 21 is inverted in that state, and left standing still for 24 hours. Then, the adhesive is removed after passage of the 24 hours. Thus, the semiconductor electrodes 121 to 123 having regions corresponding to the sections which regions are colored with the three different kinds of dyes are obtained.

Abstract: In a dye sensitized photoelectric conversion device having an electrolyte layer (6) between a semiconductor electrode (3) including, for example, fine semiconductor particles to which a sensitizing dye is adsorbed and a counter electrode (5), two kinds of dyes are used as the dye, and the two kinds of dyes are adsorbed onto the surface of the semiconductor electrode (3) at the sites different from each other. The fine semiconductor particles include, for example, TiO2. Tris(isothiocyanate)-ruthenium(II)-2,2?:6?,2?-terpyridine-4,4?,4?-tricarboxylic acid and 2-cyano-3-[4-[4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)phenyl]-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopent[b]indol-7-yl]-2-propenoic acid are used, for example, as the two kinds of dyes. Thereby, a dye sensitized photoelectric conversion device such as a dye sensitized solar cell capable of obtaining higher light absorption rate and photoelectric conversion efficiency than in a case of using one kind of dye at high purity, as well as a manufacturing method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device is formed by sequentially arranging a dye-sensitized semiconductor layer (3), a porous insulating layer (4) and a counter electrode (5) on a transparent conductive layer (2) which is formed on a transparent substrate (1). The counter electrode (5) is composed of a metal or alloy foil having a catalyst layer on one surface which is on the porous insulating layer (4) side, or a foil made of a material having a catalytic activity. At a position between two adjacent dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion devices, the transparent conductive layer (2) of one dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device and the counter electrode (5) of the other dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device are electrically connected with each other. The dye-sensitized semiconductor layer (3) and the porous insulating layer (4) are impregnated with an electrolyte. Each dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device is covered with a sealing layer (7).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device is provided by which a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device being excellent in strength and durability and free of any projection, as a result of the absence of need for an end seal, can be fabricated through simple manufacturing steps.

Abstract: To provide a functional device suitable for dye-sensitized solar cells and the like and having a structure suited for thickness reduction, and a method for making the same with good productivity. A dye-sensitized photovoltaic device 10 is constituted by a transparent substrate 1 formed of glass or the like, a transparent conductive layer 2 formed of FTO or the like, semiconductor electrode layers (negative electrodes) 3 supporting a photosensitizing dye, an electrolyte layer 4, a film-shaped counter electrode (positive electrode) 5, a film-shaped packaging member 6 replacing a counter substrate of the related art, a sealing member 7, power-collecting wiring 8, a wiring protecting layer 9, and the like. As the material of the film-shaped packaging member 6, a material that has high barrier property of suppressing passage of solvents, gasses, water, and the like and excellent resistance to organic solvents and heat is preferred.

Abstract: A dye sensitization photoelectric converter with enhanced light absorptance and photoelectric conversion efficiency is provided. A dye sensitization photoelectric converter 10 is chiefly configured of a transparent substrate 1 such as glass, a transparent electrode (negative electrode) 2 composed of a transparent conductive layer such as FTO (fluorine-doped tin(IV) oxide SnO2), a semiconductor layer 3 holding plural kinds of photosensitizing dyes, an electrolyte layer 5, a counter electrode (positive electrode) 6, a counter substrate 7 and a (non-illustrated) sealing medium, etc. As a characteristic of the present invention, the photosensitizing dye is composed of plural kinds of dyes having sufficiently different minimum excitation energy from each other or is composed of plural kinds of dyes to be held in a different steric configuration from each other in the semiconductor layer 3.