Dye-sensitized solar cell structure and method for fabricating the same

• US 20100065114A1
• 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:
  US12/232,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065114A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2059 comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution
• 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 dye-sensitized solar cell structure and a method for fabricating the same. The method of the present invention comprises forming insulation layers on a titanium plate; forming a plurality of titanium dioxide units on the titanium plate each containing a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes, wherein each insulation layer 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 dye-sensitized solar cell structure comprising

a titanium plate;

a plurality of titanium dioxide units formed on said titanium plate, absorbing a photosensitive dye and each containing a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes;

insulation layers formed on said titanium plate and each arranged in between adjacent said titanium dioxide units;

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

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

2. The dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 1, wherein said insulation layers are in form of a plurality of separating strips.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step (A):

forming insulation layers on a titanium plate;

Step (B);

forming a plurality of titanium dioxide units on said titanium plate, wherein each of said titanium dioxide units contains a plurality of titanium dioxide nanotubes, and each of said insulation layers is arranged in between adjacent said titanium dioxide units;

Step (C);

making said titanium dioxide units absorb a photosensitive dye; and

Step (D);

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 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 dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein after said Step (B), 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 (C) succeeds.

13. The method for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein said insulation layers are in form of a plurality of separating strips.

14. The method for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell structure according to claim 10, wherein said insulation layers in form of a plurality of interlaced and netted areas.

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

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