Grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure and method for fabricating the same

• US 20100065113A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric Wei-Guang Diau, National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China), Niching Industrial Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eric Wei-Guang Diau, National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China), Niching Industrial Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chien-Chon, Diau, Eric Wei-Guang, Chung, Hsien-Wen, Chen, Chin-Hsing, Sung, Chi-Jui
• Application Number:
  US12/232,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0843 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/12 Photovoltaic modules
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2063 comprising a mixture of two or more dyes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2081 Serial interconnection of cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The present invention discloses a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure and a method for fabricating the same. The method of the present invention comprises providing a titanium plate having at least one groove; forming insulation layers on the grooves; forming a plurality of titanium dioxide units on the titanium plate each containing a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes, wherein each groove is arranged in between two adjacent titanium dioxide units; making the titanium dioxide units absorb a photosensitive dye; forming a transparent conductive film over the insulation layers and the titanium dioxide units; and filling an electrolyte into spaces each enclosed by the transparent conductive film, the titanium dioxide unit, the insulation layers. The present invention not only increases the electron transmission efficiency and photoelectric conversion efficiency but also promote the uniformity of the semiconductor layer.

Claims

1. A grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure comprising

a titanium plate having at least one groove on a surface thereof;

a plurality of titanium dioxide units formed on said titanium plate, absorbing a photosensitive dye, and containing a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes, wherein each of said at least one groove is arranged in between adjacent said titanium dioxide units;

insulation layers formed on said at least one groove;

a transparent conductive film formed over said titanium dioxide units and said insulation layers; and

an electrolyte filled into spaces each enclosed by said transparent conductive film, one of said titanium dioxide units, and said insulation layers.

2. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said grooves are in form of a plurality of separated strip-like trenches.

3. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein metal layers are formed in between said transparent conductive film and said insulation layers, and said electrolyte is filled in to spaces each enclosed by said transparent conductive film, one of said titanium dioxide units, said metal layers and said insulation layers.

4. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said titanium plate is made of a flexible material.

5. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein gaps and cavities of titanium dioxide nanotubes absorb said photosensitive dye.

6. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said insulation layers are made of a silicone resin, a plastic, a rubber, a polymer material or a non-conductive ceramic material.

7. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said titanium dioxide units are fabricated with an anodizing method.

8. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said titanium plate is made of pure titanium plate or a titanium alloy.

9. The grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 8, wherein said titanium alloy is a titanium-aluminum alloy.

10. A method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure comprising

Step (A):

providing a first titanium plate having at least one groove;

Step (B);

forming insulation layers on said at least one groove;

Step (C);

forming a plurality of titanium dioxide units on said first titanium plate, wherein each of said titanium dioxide units contains a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes, and each of said at least one groove is arranged in between adjacent said titanium dioxide units;

Step (D);

making said titanium dioxide units absorb a photosensitive dye; and

Step (E);

forming a transparent conductive film over said titanium dioxide units and said insulation layers; and

filling an electrolyte into spaces each enclosed by said transparent conductive film, one of said titanium dioxide units, and said insulation layers.

11. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10 further comprising a step of forming metal layers in between said transparent conductive film and said insulation layers, wherein said electrolyte is filled into spaces each enclosed by said transparent conductive film, one of said titanium dioxide units, said metal layers, and said insulation layers.

12. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein after said Step (C), a heat treatment is performed on said titanium plate to convert said titanium dioxide nanotubes from a non-crystalline structure to an anatase phase crystalline structure;

then said Step (D) succeeds.

13. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein said groove is in form of a plurality of separated strip-like trenches.

14. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein said titanium dioxide units are fabricated with an anodizing method.

15. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein gaps and cavities of said titanium dioxide nanotubes absorb said photosensitive dye.

16. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein said Step (A) further comprises

Step (A1):

providing a second titanium plate; and

Step (A2);

forming said at least one groove on said second titanium plate to obtain said first titanium plate.

17. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 16, wherein said at least one groove is fabricated with a mechanical method or an etching method.

18. The method for fabricating a grooved dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 17, wherein said etching method is a laser-etching method.