Electrolyte composition, dye-sensitized solar cell and production method thereof

• US 7,615,703 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirose, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Neckel; Alexa D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berdichevsky; Miriam
• Application Number:
  US11/066,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20050194040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 136243-265
• US Class Current: 136/243
• 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: 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: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

An electrolyte composition is provided which is for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell that carries a dye on a semiconductor and converts light energy to electric energy by photoexcitation of the dye, and which comprises aluminum oxide and water, and has a paste-like form. By using the electrolyte composition for a dye-sensitized solar cell, the concern for liquid leakage can be eliminated, the operation cost and material cost can be reduced through simplification of an encapsulating step and increase in degree of freedom in selection of an encapsulating material, and besides the basic photoelectric conversion characteristics can be improved.

Claims

1. A dye-sensitized solar cell having an electrolyte layer comprising an electrolyte composition for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell that carries a dye on a semiconductor and converts light energy to electric energy by photoexcitation of the dye, wherein the electrolyte composition comprises hydrated alumina and water, and has a paste-like form, and wherein the electrolyte composition contains 1 to 20 wt % of hydrated alumina and 5 to 30 wt % of water.

2. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrated alumina has an average particle diameter of 200 nm or less.

3. The dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrated alumina is a γ

-type crystal.

4. A method of producing a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the steps of:

applying to a semiconductor on an electrode, an electrolyte composition for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell that carries a dye on a semiconductor and converts light energy to electric energy by photoexcitation of the dye, the electrolyte composition comprising hydrated alumina and water and having a paste-like form, thereby forming an electrolyte layer; and

providing an opposing electrode on the electrolyte layer,

wherein the electrolyte composition contains 1 to 20 wt % of hydrated alumina and 5 to 30 wt % of water.

5. The method of producing a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 4, wherein the hydrated alumina has an average particle diameter of 200 nm or less.

6. The method of producing a dye-sensitized solar cell of claim 4, wherein the hydrated alumina is a γ

-type crystal.