Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell formed by layering a conductive layer; a photoelectric conversion layer in which a dye is adsorbed in a porous semiconductor layer and the layer is filled with a carrier transporting material; and a counter electrode including only a counter electrode conductive layer or including a catalyst layer and a counter electrode conductive layer on a support made of a light transmitting material, in which the photoelectric conversion layer is brought into contact with the counter electrode; the porous semiconductor layer forming the photoelectric conversion layer has two or more layers with different light scattering properties; and the two or more porous semiconductor layers are layered in an order of from a layer with lower light scattering property to a layer with higher light scattering property from a light receiving face side of the dye-sensitized solar cell.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell formed by layering a conductive layer; a photoelectric conversion layer in which a dye is adsorbed in a porous semiconductor layer and the layer is filled with a carrier transporting material; and a counter electrode including only a counter electrode conductive layer or including a catalyst layer and a counter electrode conductive layer on a support made of a light transmitting material, in which the photoelectric conversion layer is brought into contact with the counter electrode; the porous semiconductor layer forming the photoelectric conversion layer has two or more layers with different light scattering properties; and the two or more porous semiconductor layers are layered in an order of from a layer with lower light scattering property to a layer with higher light scattering property from a light receiving face side of the dye-sensitized solar cell.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell wherein a counter electrode composed of a stable counter electrode conductive layer and a catalyst layer is formed on a porous insulation layer, and a dye-sensitized solar cell module wherein the dye-sensitized solar cell is utilized. A dye-sensitized solar cell includes a supporting body made of a light-transmissive material, and a laminate wherein a conductive layer, a photoelectric conversion layer having a porous semiconductor layer with a dye adsorbed therein, a porous insulation layer, a counter electrode conductive layer, and a catalyst layer are laminated in the order presented. The photoelectric conversion layer and the porous insulation layer are filled with a carrier transport material.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell wherein a counter electrode composed of a stable counter electrode conductive layer and a catalyst layer is formed on a porous insulation layer, and a dye-sensitized solar cell module wherein the dye-sensitized solar cell is utilized. A dye-sensitized solar cell includes a supporting body made of a light-transmissive material, and a laminate wherein a conductive layer, a photoelectric conversion layer having a porous semiconductor layer with a dye adsorbed therein, a porous insulation layer, a counter electrode conductive layer, and a catalyst layer are laminated in the order presented. The photoelectric conversion layer and the porous insulation lay are filled with a carrier transport material.

Abstract: Embodiments of photoanodes and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) comprising colloidal, cation-exchanged quantum dots are disclosed. The quantum dots include a core and an outer cation-exchanged layer having a cation composition that differs from a cation composition of the core. Methods of making the quantum dots, photoanodes, and QDSSCs also are disclosed.

Abstract: A paste containing a silica polymer, made by substituting at least some of the surface functional groups thereof with alkyl groups, and solvent-removable inorganic particles is prepared, and the paste is applied and fired to form a transparent insulating film in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Abstract: Provided are methods of surface treatment of nanocrystal quantum dots after film deposition so as to exchange the native ligands of the quantum dots for exchange ligands that result in improvement in charge extraction from the nanocrystals.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell module comprising: a plurality of electrically series-connected solar cells having a first conductive layer formed on an insulating substrate; a photoelectric conversion device formed on the first conductive layer; and a second conductive layer formed on the photoelectric conversion device, wherein the photoelectric conversion device has a photoelectric conversion layer having a porous semiconductor layer adsorbing a dye, a carrier transporting layer and a catalyst layer and the dye-sensitized solar cell module is characterized in that the second conductive layer of the above-described one solar cell contacts the first conductive layer of an adjacent another solar cell and the photoelectric conversion device of the above-described adjacent another solar cell contacts the second conductive layer of the above-described one solar cell.

Abstract: Composite materials useful for devices such as photoelectrochemical solar cells include a substrate, a metal oxide film on the substrate, nanocrystalline quantum dots (NQDs) of lead sulfide, lead selenide, and lead telluride, and linkers that attach the NQDs to the metal oxide film. Suitable linkers preserve the 1s absorption peak of the NQDs. A suitable linker has a general structure A-B-C where A is a chemical group adapted for binding to a MOx and C is a chemical group adapted for binding to a NQD and B is a divalent, rigid, or semi-rigid organic spacer moiety. Other linkers that preserve the 1s absorption peak may also be used.

Abstract: Embodiments of linkers for binding semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) to metal oxides are disclosed. The linkers have a general formula F1-A-(F2)z wherein F1 is —COOH, —COO?, —PO3H2, —PO3H?, —B(OH)2, —BO2H?, —SO3H, —SO3?, —NH2, —SH, or —S?; A is aryl, heteroaryl, aliphatic, or heteroaliphatic; and z?1 and each F2 independently is —PO3H2, —PO3H?, —B(OH)2, —BO2H?, —SO3H, —SO3?, or z?2 and each F2 independently is —COOH, —COO?, —PO3H2, —PO3H?, —B(OH)2, —BO2H?, —SO3H, or —SO3?, or z?2 and (F2)z collectively is an oxysilane moiety comprising z lower alkoxy groups bound to silicon. Methods of binding QDs to metal oxides with the disclosed linkers also are disclosed, as well as devices including the QD-functionalized metal oxides.

Abstract: Provided are methods of surface treatment of nanocrystal quantum dots after film deposition so as to exchange the native ligands of the quantum dots for exchange ligands that result in improvement in charge extraction from the nanocrystals.

Abstract: Composite materials useful for devices such as photoelectrochemical solar cells include a substrate, a metal oxide film on the substrate, nanocrystalline quantum dots (NQDs) of lead sulfide, lead selenide, and lead telluride, and linkers that attach the NQDs to the metal oxide film. Suitable linkers preserve the 1s absorption peak of the NQDs. A suitable linker has a general structure A-B-C where A is a chemical group adapted for binding to a MOx and C is a chemical group adapted for binding to a NQD and B is a divalent, rigid, or semi-rigid organic spacer moiety. Other linkers that preserve the 1s absorption peak may also be used.

Abstract: The present invention aims to improve the photoelectric current of a dye-sensitized solar cell module and produce a high power dye-sensitized solar cell. The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell module comprising at least two photoelectric conversion elements each comprising a transparent conductive layer, a porous photoelectric conversion layer adsorbing a dye, an electrolytic layer, a catalyst layer, and a conductive layer on a transparent substrate, wherein the respective photoelectric conversion elements are different in at least one among the layering order of the respective layers composing the photoelectric conversion elements; the type and composition of the materials for the respective layers; the particle diameter in the case the materials of the respective layers are granular; the thickness and width of the respective layers; the form of the respective layers; and the open circuit voltage of the photoelectric conversion elements, and thereby the aim is achieved.

Abstract: A wet solar cell module includes two or more photoelectric conversion devices spaced from each other and sandwiched between a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate. The photoelectric conversion device includes a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion portion, and a second electrode that are stacked in this order on the first insulating substrate. One of the first electrode and the second electrode included in the photoelectric conversion device has a through portion. Between respective photoelectric conversion portions of two photoelectric conversion devices adjacent to each other, an inter-cell insulating portion extends through the through portion. In a space surrounded by the first insulating substrate, the second insulating substrate, and the inter-cell insulating portion, a carrier transporter is provided.

Abstract: Photoelectrochemical solar cells (PECs) consisting of a photoanode were prepared by direct deposition of independently synthesized CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) onto a nanocrystalline TiO2 film (NQD/TiO2), aqueous Na2S or Li2S electrolyte and a Pt counter electrode. The light harvesting efficiency (LHE) of the NQD/TiO2 photoanode is significantly enhanced when the NQD surface passivation is changed from tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) to a smaller ligand (e.g. n-butylamine (BA)). Using NQDs with a shorter passivating ligand, BA, leads to a significant enhancement in both the electron injection efficiency at the NQD/TiO2 interface and charge collection efficiency at the NQD/electrolyte interface, with the latter attributed mostly to a more efficient diffusion of the electrolyte through the pores of the photoanode.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell comprising at least a catalyst layer; a porous insulating layer containing an electrolyte in the inside; a porous semiconductor layer adsorbing a sensitizing dye and containing an electrolyte in the inside; and a second conductive layer laminated on a first conductive layer, wherein a contact face between the porous insulating layer or the porous semiconductor layer and the catalyst layer or the second conductive layer laminated adjacent to each other has an uneven form with a surface roughness coefficient Ra in a range of 0.05 to 0.3 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a generation facility management system using natural energy, and an object of the invention is to promote introduction of a generation facility by giving a consideration for generated and consumed power.

Abstract: Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell wherein a counter electrode composed of a stable counter electrode conductive layer and a catalyst layer is formed on a porous insulation layer, and a dye-sensitized solar cell module wherein the dye-sensitized solar cell is utilized. A dye-sensitized solar cell includes a supporting body made of a light-transmissive material, and a laminate wherein a conductive layer, a photoelectric conversion layer having a porous semiconductor layer with a dye adsorbed therein, a porous insulation layer, a counter electrode conductive layer, and a catalyst layer are laminated in the order presented. The photoelectric conversion layer and the porous insulation lay are filled with a carrier transport material.

Abstract: A paste containing a silica polymer, made by substituting at least some of the surface functional groups thereof with alkyl groups, and solvent-removable inorganic particles is prepared, and the paste is applied and fired to form a transparent insulating film in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Abstract: A photosensitized solar cell characterized in that at least a catalyst layer 3, a porous insulating layer 4 internally containing an electrolyte, a porous semiconductor layer 6 with a photosensitizer adsorbed thereon, internally containing the electrolyte, and a translucent cover member 7 are laminated in this order on a conductive substrate.