Abstract: A method for adsorption of a photosensitizing dye includes adsorbing the photosensitizing dye to the layer of an electrode material that functions as the working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell, within a reaction vessel containing a solution of the photosensitizing dye, wherein a flow of the photosensitizing dye solution is generated by means of a flow generation part in a direction perpendicular to the electrode material layer, a direction parallel thereto or both, and the flow rate of the photosensitizing dye solution to the electrode material layer is higher than the diffusion velocity of the photosensitizing dye.

Abstract: An organic thin-film transistor comprising a gate electrode, a gate insulator layer, an organic semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode wherein the organic semiconductor layer consists of the organic semiconductor material having the structure represented by the general formula (1) shown below, and the organic semiconductor layer has crystallinity: wherein L represents a bivalent linker group having the structure consisting of one group or any combination of two or more groups selected from unsubstituted or fluorinated benzene residue, unsubstituted or fluorinated thiophene residue, unsubstituted or fluorinated thienothophene residue; R1 represents carbonyl group, cyano group or C1-C6 fluorinated alkyl group; R2 represents halogen atom, cyano group, carbonyl group or acetyl group.

Abstract: There is provided a tandem-type dye-sensitized solar cell having a novel structure whereby optical absorption efficiency is improved and which can be manufactured at low cost. A dye-sensitized solar cell 10 comprises an anode substrate 12, a first dye-carrying porous oxide semiconductor layer 14, an electrolytic solution layer 16a, a porous support layer 18, a second dye-carrying porous oxide semiconductor layer 20, an electrolytic solution layer 16b, and a cathode substrate 22, arranged in order from an optical incidence side. The porous support layer 18 supports an iodine redox catalyst layer 19. Electrons derived by a conductor from a conductor layer 12b are introduced to the cathode substrate 22, thereby configuring, for example, a battery circuit for lighting purposes.

Abstract: There are provided a dye-sensitized solar cell easy to manufacture, high in power extraction efficiency, and suitable for upsizing, and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye-sensitized solar cell 10 comprises a transparent substrate 12; a porous semiconductor layer 14 having a dye adsorbed thereto; a conductive metal film 16; and a substrate 20 provided with a conductive film 18 and arranged opposite to the transparent substrate 12. A large number of deep poriform through-holes 24 are irregularly formed in the conductive metal film 16. The dye-sensitized solar cell 10 includes a large number of porous semiconductor particles 25 one end of which is exposed to an electrolyte 22 through the conductive metal film 16 and the other end of which joins the porous semiconductor layer 14.

Abstract: To provide a dye-sensitized solar cell capable of significantly improving power extraction efficiency, and a manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a substrate, a porous semiconductor layer adsorbing a dye, a conductive metal layer, and a conductive substrate. The conductive metal layer 16 is a current collector provided on the side of the porous semiconductor layer, the side being opposite to the side on which the substrate is arranged. The conductive metal layer 16 is configured by a conductive metal section 17 made of a mesh member, and a coating section 19 formed on the conductive metal section 17. The coating section 19 is configured by an inner layer 19a and an outer layer 19b, and has a graded composition structure in which the degree of oxidization of the coating section is increased from the side of the conductive metal section 17 toward the side of the porous semiconductor layer 14.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for effectively preventing the contact between the surface of a titanium oxide semiconductor electrode and an electrolyte solution, a photoelectric conversion device exhibiting high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the said photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device comprising a dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode is manufactured by letting a semiconductor adsorb a sensitizing dye, then rinsing the dye-adsorbed semiconductor, and finally letting the rinsed dye-adsorbed semiconductor adsorb a carboxylic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide. The adsorption of a dye and the rinsing are performed preferably in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence or absence of an alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided that includes a transparent electrode formed by depositing, in order on a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film containing tin oxide as a main component, and a compact titanium oxide layer and/or a porous titanium oxide layer, wherein the transparent conductive film, which contains tin oxide as the main component, has a fluorine concentration not exceeding 0.2 wt %, and the transparent conductive film on the transparent substrate has in an X-ray diffraction pattern thereof diffraction peaks attributable to (110), (200), and (211) planes satisfying the conditions that, relative to the sum of the diffraction intensities of the three planes, the ratios of both the (110) and (211) diffraction intensities are larger than 0.25 and smaller than 0.4, and the ratio of the (200) diffraction intensity is larger than 0.25 and smaller than 0.5.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided, wherein it can be produced by a relatively easy and simple process and ensures high conversion efficiency even in cases where the thickness of the porous semiconductor layer is increased. The dye-sensitized solar cell 10 includes, in the interior of or on the conductive-substrate-side surface of the porous semiconductor layer 16, conductive metal film 20, such as a film of tungsten, having a large number of randomly located penetrations 24. Penetrations 24 of the conductive metal film 20 are formed by forming a fine-particle layer on the surface of the porous semiconductor layer, forming a conductive metal film on the surface of the fine-particle layer, and making the fine-particle layer disappear by heating or solvent-cleaning.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for effectively preventing the contact between the surface of a titanium oxide semiconductor electrode and an electrolyte solution, a photoelectric conversion device exhibiting high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the said photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device comprising a dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode is manufactured by letting a semiconductor adsorb a sensitizing dye, then rinsing the dye-adsorbed semiconductor, and finally letting the rinsed dye-adsorbed semiconductor adsorb a carboxylic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide. The adsorption of a dye and the rinsing are performed preferably in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence or absence of an alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a gel electrolyte precursor for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell which is easy to handle when used to fabricate solar cells and provides a solar cell excellent in photoelectric conversion efficiency and to provide dye-sensitized solar cells. Dye-sensitized solar cell 10 is made up of: an electrode consisting of transparent substrate 12a with transparent conductive film 14a and metal oxide semiconductor layer 16 deposited on its surface and sensitizing dye layer 18 supported thereon; and an electrode consisting of transparent glass plate 12b with transparent conductive film 14b deposited on its surface and a good-conducting metal sputter-deposited thereon, wherein between the two electrodes a closed space is defined by separator 20, and electrolyte layer 22, which is a gelled electrolysis solution, is arranged in the closed space.

Abstract: A chemical battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a gel electrolyte containing a crosslinked body and an electrolyte, the crosslinked body being obtained by crosslinking at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound having an alicyclic structure and at least one epoxy group in a single molecule and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte composition that can simultaneously realize solidification of the electrolyte layer and alleviation of a reduction in photoelectric conversion rate caused by the solidification of electrolyte layers, and a dye-sensitized solar cell having a solid electrolyte layer comprising the electrolyte composition. The electrolyte composition includes nanoparticles with an ammonium group or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group bound thereto; or a porous inorganic film with an ammonium group or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group bound thereto. The nanoparticles and the porous inorganic film each are formed of a metal oxide. The nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group is an imidazolium group, a pyridinium group, a triazolium group or a guanidinium group, and the counter anion group is F?, Cl?, Br?, I? or the like. The ammonium group or the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group chemically modifies the nanoparticles or the porous inorganic film.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell is provided that includes a transparent electrode formed by depositing, in order on a transparent substrate, a transparent conductive film containing tin oxide as a main component, and a compact titanium oxide layer and/or a porous titanium oxide layer, wherein the transparent conductive film, which contains tin oxide as the main component, has a fluorine concentration not exceeding 0.2 wt %, and the transparent conductive film on the transparent substrate has in an X-ray diffraction pattern thereof diffraction peaks attributable to (110), (200), and (211) planes satisfying the conditions that, relative to the sum of the diffraction intensities of the three planes, the ratios of both the (110) and (211) diffraction intensities are larger than 0.25 and smaller than 0.4, and the ratio of the (200) diffraction intensity is larger than 0.25 and smaller than 0.5.

Abstract: The embodiment of the invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor electrode containing a dye and carboxylic compound, the dye and carboxylic compound being carried on a surface of the semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte composition provided between the semiconductor electrode and the counter electrode, and containing an electrolyte that contains iodine and molten salt of iodide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a proton conductive film for an electrolytic membrane for a fuel cell, the proton conductive film being a composite body comprising a proton conductive polymer and a polymer represented by general formula (1) given below, or a composite body comprising a proton conductive polymer and a copolymer between a polymer represented by general formula (1) and a metal oxide represented by general formula (2) given below: where, X represents a functional group having a nitrogen atom, A represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent organic group, n is an integer, M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Al, B, Mo, W, Ru, Ir, Ge, Si and V, x is 1 or 2, and y is 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a gel electrolyte containing a crosslinked body and an electrolyte, the crosslinked body being obtained by crosslinking at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound having an alicyclic structure and at least one epoxy group in a single molecule and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a gel electrolyte containing a crosslinked body and an electrolyte, the crosslinked body being obtained by crosslinking at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound having an alicyclic structure and at least one epoxy group in a single molecule and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a proton conductive film for an electrolytic membrane for a fuel cell, the proton conductive film being a composite body comprising a proton conductive polymer and a polymer represented by general formula (1) given below, or a composite body comprising a proton conductive polymer and a copolymer between a polymer represented by general formula (1) and a metal oxide represented by general formula (2) given below: 1

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a gel electrolyte containing a crosslinked body and an electrolyte, the crosslinked body being obtained by crosslinking at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound having an alicyclic structure and at least one epoxy group in a single molecule and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a curing catalyst comprising at least one compound which is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic compound and having any one of groups (I) --O--R.sub.1, (II) --O--CY--R.sub.1, or (III) --O--CY--X--R.sub.1, the groups being directly bonded to the armoatic or heteroaromatic ring, in a number of 1 to 10 wherein R.sub.1 may be the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is O or NH and Y is O or S. Furthermore, an epoxy resin composition comprising the curing catalyst is disclosed.