Solar cell device

• US 20050072458A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3Gsolar Photovoltaics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Orionsolar Ltd.
• Inventors: Goldstein, Jonathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2018 characterised by the ionic charge transport species, e.g. redox shuttles
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2068 Panels or arrays of photoelectrochemical cells, e.g. photovoltaic modules based on photoelectrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2077 Sealing arrangements, e.g. to prevent the leakage of the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell for converting a light source into electricity, including: (a) a housing for the photovoltaic cell, including: (i) an at least partially transparent cell wall; (b) at least one electrically-conductive element, disposed at least partially within the photovoltaic cell, for boosting collection of a current generated by the cell; (c) a conductive coating, electrically associated with the electrically-conductive element, and disposed on a surface within the photovoltaic cell; (d) an electrolyte, disposed within the cell wall, the electrolyte containing a redox species, and (e) a current collection element, disposed on a side of the cell wall, wherein the current collection element is electrically connected to the electrically-conductive element, so as to remove the current produced by the cell.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic cell for converting a light source into electricity, the cell comprising:

(a) a housing for the photovoltaic cell, said housing including;

(i) an at least partially transparent cell wall, said cell wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

(b) at least one electrically-conductive element, disposed at least partially within the photovoltaic cell, for boosting collection of a current generated by the cell;

(c) a conductive coating, electrically associated with said electrically-conductive element, and disposed on a surface within the photovoltaic cell;

(d) an electrolyte, disposed within said cell wall, said electrolyte containing a redox species, and

(e) a current collection element, disposed on a side of said cell wall,

wherein said current collection element is electrically connected to said electrically-conductive element, so as to remove said current produced by the cell.

2. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrically-conductive element extends through said cell wall, so as to communicate with an outside environment.

3. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said conductive coating is an at least partially transparent conductive coating.

4. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cell is at least partially light transmissive, so as to enable energy transmission through the cell.

5. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said housing, said electrically-conductive element, said conductive coating, and said electrolyte are designed and configured such that the photovoltaic cell has a light transmittance exceeding 30%.

6. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said housing, said electrically-conductive element, said conductive coating, and said electrolyte are designed and configured such that the photovoltaic cell has a light transmittance exceeding 50%.

7. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) a solar heating system having a heat collector,

wherein the photovoltaic cell is disposed in a light path between the light source and said heat collector.

8. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said redox species includes iodine.

9. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) a porous film for intimate contacting with said redox species.

10. The photovoltaic cell of claim 9, wherein said porous film includes titania (TiO₂).

11. The photovoltaic cell of claim 10, further comprising:

(g) a dye, absorbed on a surface of said porous film, for activating said titania for conversion of photons to electrons.

12. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive element is part of an anode of the photovoltaic cell.

13. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive element is part of a cathode of the photovoltaic cell.

14. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said housing of the photovoltaic cell includes an opening for replacement of at least one component of the cell.

15. The photovoltaic cell of claim 14, wherein said component is said electrolyte.

16. The photovoltaic cell of claim 14, wherein said component is a dye.

17. A plurality of the photovoltaic cell of claim 1, said plurality being electrically connected in series.

18. A plurality of the photovoltaic cell of claim 1, said plurality being electrically connected in series solely by said current collection element.

19. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said interior surface has at least one groove, and wherein within said at least one groove is disposed said electrically conductive element for conducting a current produced by the photovoltaic cell.

20. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said conductive material is physically isolated from said electrolyte by a material chemically inert to said electrolyte.

21. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20, wherein said conductive material is physically isolated from said electrolyte by a second material, said second material being chemically inert to said electrolyte.

22. The photovoltaic cell of claim 21, wherein said second material is a substantially non-conductive material.

23. The photovoltaic cell of claim 21, wherein said second material is a second conductive material.

24. The photovoltaic cell of claim 23, wherein said second conductive material includes a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, tin oxide, and titanium nitride.

25. The photovoltaic cell of claim 20, wherein said conductive material is electrically associated with a layer of tin oxide.

26. The photovoltaic cell of claim 4, wherein said at least partially transparent conductive coating includes tin oxide.

27. The photovoltaic cell of claim 26, wherein an electrical resistance of said coating exceeds 10 ohms per square.

28. The photovoltaic cell of claim 26, wherein an electrical resistance of said coating exceeds 20 ohms per square.

29. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said at least partially transparent conductive coating includes tin oxide, and wherein an electrical resistance of said coating exceeds 30 ohms per square.

30. The photovoltaic cell of claim 26, wherein said tin oxide is of a grade of tin oxide prepared by a process selected from the group consisting of sol-gel process, vapor deposition process, plasma, and dip spray process.

31. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, further including a seal selected from the group consisting of gasket and O-ring, and a closure for pressuring said seal so as to seal the photovoltaic cell, said closure selected from the group consisting of crimp closure and bolted closure.

32. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said cell wall includes plastic.

33. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein an edge seal of said cell wall is made primarily of a material selected from the group consisting of low-temperature glass, polymer, inorganic adhesive, and glass paste.

34. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive element is disposed between said cell wall and said conductive coating.

35. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive element includes an electrically conductive strip.

36. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive element includes an electrically conductive mesh.

37. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, wherein said electrically conductive mesh includes a material selected from the group of carbon, graphite, titanium, and tungsten.

38. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, further comprising:

(f) a porous film, supported by said electrically conductive mesh.

39. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, wherein said conductive coating includes transparent tin oxide, said conductive coating disposed between said mesh and said cell wall, such that at least a portion of light emitted by the light source passes through said cell wall, through said coating, and through said electrically conductive mesh.

40. The photovoltaic cell of claim 36, wherein said conductive coating is disposed underneath said mesh, with respect to the light source, said conductive coating being porous so as to allow a transport of ions through said coating.

41. The photovoltaic cell of claim 40, wherein said conductive coating includes titanium nitride and a binder that is substantially chemically inert with respect to said electrolyte.