Abstract: An anatase-type titania crystal having a one-dimensional structure; a process for producing the crystal; and a dye-sensitized solar cell employing the titania crystal. The titania crystal is excellent in photocatalytic characteristics and photoelectric conversion characteristics. The process for titania crystal production is characterized by comprising: a mixing step in which an aqueous solution containing a block copolymer (A) having a hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic block is mixed with an organic solvent (C) containing a titanium alkoxide (B) dissolved therein to thereby give a liquid mixture; a reaction step in which the temperature of the liquid mixture is set at a value in the range of from 120° C. to 180° C. and the pressure of the atmosphere is set so as to result in the saturated vapor pressure at that set temperature to thereby react the liquid mixture and form a titania sol; and a baking step in which the titania sol is heated to produce baked titania particles having a wire shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion device including a transparent conductor layer formed on a light transmissive substrate, an electron blocking layer covering the surface of the transparent conductor layer, a bulk heterojunction type photoelectric conversion layer in contact with the electron blocking layer, a hole blocking layer covering the surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, and a counter electrode covering the hole blocking layer, wherein the hole blocking layer is made of a material having a band gap of 3.0 eV or more, thereby the migration of holes from the photoelectric conversion layer is prevented and recombination or leakage current is suppressed.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system for preventing the theft of dehydrogenation organic fuel containing hydrogen is provided. The dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system is for systems including a reformer for dehydrogenating organic fuel containing at least hydrogen and a dehydrogenation fuel recovery tank for storing dehydrogenation fuel produced when organic fuel is dehydrogenated in the reformer. The theft prevention system is provided with a means for mixing an odorant as a component with a pungent odor other than the fuel components or a agent for coagulating the fuel components. The odorant or the coagulating agent is mixed when fuel is manufactured, distributed, utilized, recovered, or stored or fuel is about to be stolen.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system for preventing the theft of dehydrogenation organic fuel containing hydrogen is provided. The dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system is for systems including a reformer for dehydrogenating organic fuel containing at least hydrogen and a dehydrogenation fuel recovery tank for storing dehydrogenation fuel produced when organic fuel is dehydrogenated in the reformer. The theft prevention system is provided with a means for mixing an odorant as a component with a pungent odor other than the fuel components or a agent for coagulating the fuel components. The odorant or the coagulating agent is mixed when fuel is manufactured, distributed, utilized, recovered, or stored or fuel is about to be stolen.

Abstract: An organic thin-film photovoltaic cell comprises: a transparent conductor layer; a hole transport layer formed on the transparent conductor layer; a photoelectric conversion layer formed on the hole transport layer; an electron transport layer formed on the photoelectric conversion layer; and a counter electrode formed on the electron transport layer, in which: the photoelectric conversion layer is made of a mixture of a p-type semiconductor molecule or p-type polymer and an n-type semiconductor molecule; the electron transport layer contains the n-type semiconductor molecule; and the p-type semiconductor molecule or p-type polymer contained in the photoelectric conversion layer and exposed at an interface between the photoelectric conversion layer and the electron transport layer is in contact with the n-type semiconductor molecule contained in the electron transport layer.

Abstract: An organic thin film solar cell comprises: positive and negative electrode layers; and an organic thin film layer disposed between the positive and negative electrode layers, the organic thin film layer including: a mixture of at least a first organic compound having a light-absorbing dye moiety and an electron-accepting second organic compound, in which the organic thin film layer further includes inorganic nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides photovoltaic cells that stably increase photovoltaic conversion efficiency while restraining current leakage. The photovoltaic cells of the present invention include a transparent conductive layer formed on a light-permeable substrate, an organic semiconductor layer A covering the surface of the transparent conductive layer, a photovoltaic conversion layer in contact with the organic semiconductor layer, an organic semiconductor layer B in contact with the photovoltaic conversion layer, and a counter electrode in contact with the organic semiconductor layer B. In the photovoltaic cells, a patterned indented interlayer is formed at the interface between the organic semiconductor layer A and the photovoltaic conversion layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged dye sensitized solar cell which has a short-circuit preventing structure while a distance between a transparent conductive oxide and a counter electrode, that is, a cell gap is shortened. The dye sensitized solar cell includes a transparent conductive oxide which includes a transparent substrate and a conductive metal oxide having a light transmission property; a metal grid which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide; a protective film with which the metal grid is coated; a dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide in which the metal grid is not formed; and a counter electrode substrate, wherein a short-circuit preventing layer is provided in the counter electrode substrate facing the metal grid, and a width formed by a short side of the short-circuit preventing layer is larger than a width formed by the metal grid and protective layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor electrode comprises a substrate having optical transparency, a transparent conductive layer provided on a photo-receptive surface of the substrate, and a porous semiconductor made of a metal oxide provided on the transparent conductive layer. The porous semiconductor has at least dye and a thiophene-ring-containing organic compound adsorbed thereon.