Electrochemical cell structure and method of fabrication

• US 8,796,065 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: McGregor, Barry, Ishida, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): PERT, EVAN T
• Application Number:
  US13/420,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 438/85, 295/921
• US Class Current: 438/85
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1506 caused by electrodeposition, e.g. electrolytic deposition of an inorganic material on or close to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/04 dye
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2027 comprising an oxide semiconductor electrode
• 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: H01L 31/022425 for solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/022466 made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. TCO, ITO layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02366 of the substrate or of a layer on the substrate, e.g. textured ITO/glass substrate or superstrate, textured polymer layer on glass substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/135 using ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An electrochemical cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The electrochemical cell comprising: a first conductive layer; a metal oxide layer formed on the first conductive layer, the metal oxide layer comprising a plurality of adjacent metal oxide cells, spaced from one another; a functional dye layer formed on the metal oxide layer; a second conductive layer; and an electrolyte between the functional dye layer and the second conductive layer, wherein at least one of the first and second conductive layers is transparent, and wherein the metal oxide layer is formed from a metal oxide particle dispersion liquid.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating an electrochemical cell, comprising:

forming a metal oxide on a first electrode by inkjet printing; and

forming a dye on the metal oxide by inkjet printing.

2. The method of fabricating an electrochemical cell according to claim 1, the forming a metal oxide on a first electrode by inkjet printing including:

inkjet printing metal oxide ink on the first electrode, and

drying the metal oxide ink on the first electrode,

the metal oxide ink including a plurality of metal oxide particles.

3. The method of fabricating an electrochemical cell according to claim 2, the metal oxide ink further including a binder.

4. The method of fabricating an electrochemical cell according to claim 3, the binder including polyethylene oxide.

5. The method of fabricating an electrochemical cell according to claim 1, further comprising:

forming an insulator on the first electrode, the insulator having an opening,

the forming a metal oxide on a first electrode by inkjet printing including forming the metal oxide in the opening by inkjet printing.

6. The method of fabricating an electrochemical cell according to claim 1, further comprising:

forming a second electrode;

forming an electrolyte layer between the dye and the second electrode.