Photovoltaic cell and solar cell utilizing the same

• US 6,452,092 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Ryosuke, Han, Liyuan
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/764,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 136/263, 136/256, 136/252, 136/250, 429/111, 257/40, 257/43, 257/431
• US Class Current: 136/263
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2009 Solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/549 Organic PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell comprises an electrode layer, a photovoltaic layer, a hole transport layer, a conductive layer and a counter electrode layer stacked in this order.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic cell comprising an electrode layer, a photovoltaic layer, a hole transport layer, a conductive layer and a counter electrode layer stacked in this order, wherein the photovoltaic layer is made of a porous material, and the porous photovoltaic layer and the hole transport layer are embedded in at least a portion of the conductive layer.

2. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the electrode layer and the counter electrode layer is/are transparent.

3. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic layer is comprised of a semiconductor material and a photosensiting dye adsorbed therein.

4. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 3, wherein the semiconductor material is an inorganic semiconductor material.

5. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 3, wherein the photosensiting dye has an interlock group selected from a carboxyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, an ester group, a mercapto group, and a phosphonyl group.

6. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 3, wherein the semiconductor material is a porous material.

7. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 6, wherein the porous material has a specific surface area of 10 m²/g or more.

8. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 3, wherein the semiconductor material is titanium oxide.

9. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 3, wherein the semiconductor material has a thickness of 0.3 to 50 μ

m.

10. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is comprised of an intermolecular charge-transfer complex.

11. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 10, wherein the intermolecular charge-transfer complex is comprised of an organic donor and an organic acceptor.

12. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 10, wherein the intermolecular charge-transfer complex is comprised of a carbazole donor and a quinone acceptor.

13. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1, wherein the hole transport layer has a thickness of 0.5 μ

m or less.

14. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 1, wherein the hole transport layer is comprised of an organic high polymeric hole transport material.

15. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 14, wherein the organic high polymeric hole transport material is organic polysilane.

16. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 15, wherein the organic polysilane has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 20,000.

17. A solar cell comprised of a photovoltaic cell according to claim 1.

18. A photovoltaic cell comprising an electrode layer, a photovoltaic layer, a hole transport layer, a conductive layer and a counter electrode layer stacked in this order wherein the conductive layer is comprised of an intermolecular charge-transfer complex which is comprised of a carbozole donor and a quinone acceptor.

19. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 18, wherein one or both of the electrode layer and the counter electrode layer is/are transparent.

20. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 18, wherein the photovoltaic layer is comprised of a semiconductor material and a photosensiting dye adsorbed therein.

21. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 20, wherein the semiconductor material is an inorganic semiconductor material.

22. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 20, wherein the photosensiting dye has an interlock group selected from a carboxyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, an ester group, a mercapto group, and a phosphonyl group.

23. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 20, wherein the semiconductor material is a porous material.

24. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 23, wherein the porous material has a specific surface area of 10 m²/g or more.

25. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 20, wherein the semiconductor material is titanium oxide.

26. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 20, wherein the semiconductor material has a thickness of 0.3 to 50 μ

m.

27. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 18, wherein the hole transport layer has a thickness of 0.5 μ

m or less.

28. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 18, wherein the hole transport layer is comprised of an organic high polymeric hole transport material.

29. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 28, wherein the organic high polymeric hole transport material is organic polysilane.

30. A photovoltaic cell according to claim 29, wherein the organic polysilane has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 20,000.

31. A solar cell comprised of a photovoltaic cell according to claim 18.