JP5920282B2 - Dye-sensitized solar cell module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell module that prevents the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, has high power generation efficiency, excellent workability, and high productivity. .

  In recent years, environmental problems such as global warming caused by an increase in carbon dioxide have become serious, and countermeasures are being promoted worldwide. In particular, active research and development on solar cells using solar energy as a clean energy source with a low environmental impact is underway. As such solar cells, single crystal silicon solar cells, polycrystalline silicon solar cells, amorphous silicon solar cells, compound semiconductor solar cells and the like have already been put into practical use, but these solar cells have high production costs, etc. There is a problem. Therefore, as a solar cell that has a small environmental load and can reduce the manufacturing cost, a dye-sensitized solar cell has been attracting attention and research and development have been promoted.

Here, a general dye-sensitized solar cell is formed between, for example, a pair of electrode base materials having a function as electrodes and the pair of electrode base materials, and a dye sensitizer is carried on the surface. A porous layer containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles, and an electrolyte layer formed between the pair of electrode substrates so as to be in contact with the porous layer and having an electrolyte containing a redox pair. is there. In the dye-sensitized solar cell described above, at least one of the electrode substrates has transparency since at least one of the electrode substrates serves as a sunlight receiving surface.
The electrolyte layer is formed, for example, by enclosing a liquid electrolyte in a space formed by the pair of electrode base materials and a sealing member provided between the pair of electrode base materials. Can be mentioned. Further, the sealing member used for the electrolyte layer has not only a function of holding a liquid electrolyte together with the pair of electrode base materials but also a contact between the pair of electrode base materials, so that the dye-sensitized solar It has a function of preventing the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the battery.

In order to put such a dye-sensitized solar cell into practical use, a larger output voltage is required. Therefore, by connecting a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, It has been tried to do.
Further, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, if an internal short circuit occurs in one dye-sensitized solar cell element among the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module Since it affects the whole, it is one of important issues to prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element.

By the way, in the said dye-sensitized solar cell element module, in order to improve workability, the structure which can provide high flexibility is calculated | required.
Here, as a configuration of a conventional dye-sensitized solar cell element module having flexibility, for example, a configuration in which a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements are formed between two flexible substrates. Is mentioned.
However, when bending is performed on the dye-sensitized solar cell module having the above-described configuration, the two flexible substrates have different curvatures, and thus exhibit a desired bendability. However, there is a problem that the dye-sensitized solar cell module deteriorates due to bending or bending.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, as a configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, a first electrode base material in which a plurality of first electrode layers are formed on one first base material, and a second electrode layer A plurality of second electrode base materials, a plurality of first electrode layers formed on one first electrode base material, and a plurality of second electrode base materials formed between the second electrode layers of each second electrode base material A plurality of sealing members disposed around the plurality of first electrode layers and the plurality of second electrode layers, the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, and the sealing member. A structure of a dye-sensitized solar cell element module having a plurality of electrolyte layers formed by enclosing a liquid electrolyte in a space to be formed is disclosed. According to the configuration described above, a configuration in which the second electrode layers formed on each second electrode substrate face each other in accordance with the plurality of first electrode layers formed on one first electrode substrate. Therefore, a dye-sensitized solar cell element module exhibiting high flexibility can be obtained.

However, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, since it is possible to impart high flexibility, the electrode layers are brought into contact with each other by bending each electrode substrate in use. There is a problem that an internal short circuit occurs.
Further, each dye-sensitized solar cell element constituting the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element module is usually composed of a porous layer and a sealing member in the region on the end side of the dye-sensitized solar cell element. And a space in which the liquid electrolyte is filled. Therefore, there is no porous layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and in the region on the end side of the dye-sensitized solar cell element having the space described above, an internal short circuit due to contact between the electrode layers is particularly There was a problem that it was likely to occur.

  Moreover, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, in order to bond the first electrode base material and the plurality of second electrode base materials, it is necessary to provide an adhesive portion, an insulating portion, etc. Since the above-mentioned adhesion part, insulation part, etc. cannot contribute to power generation, it becomes a factor of reducing the power generation efficiency by reducing the power generation area of the entire dye-sensitized solar cell module, and excessively using materials such as base materials There was a problem of using it.

  Moreover, when manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell element module having the above-described configuration, a large area is required because a step of injecting an electrolyte after the first electrode base material and the second electrode base material are bonded together is required. There are also problems that it takes time when manufacturing the cell, and that it may be difficult to sufficiently inject the electrolyte into the above-described space due to bending of each electrode base material.

  Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, dye sensitization that has excellent workability, high power generation efficiency, and high productivity. Type solar cell module is desired.

JP 2006-32110 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of internal short circuit in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, high power generation efficiency, excellent workability, The main object of the present invention is to provide a dye-sensitized solar cell module with high productivity.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a first electrode substrate having a first substrate and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first substrate, at least a first electrode substrate. Formed on one of a plurality of second electrode base materials having two electrode layers, the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a dye sensitizer, and the second electrode layer of the first electrode base or the second electrode base of the second electrode base. Of the electrode layers, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer, the first electrode layer, Dye-sensitized solar cell having the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer Of the dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the first electrode layer of the one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. A dye-sensitized solar cell element module in which the second electrode layer is electrically connected, wherein the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is the same as the size of the porous layer Alternatively, the present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell module, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is formed so as to be larger than the size of the porous layer.

According to the present invention, the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is the same as the size of the porous layer or larger than the size of the porous layer. Therefore, in one dye-sensitized solar cell element, a solid electrolyte layer is formed in a region on the end side of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in which contact between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is likely to occur. Therefore, an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be suitably prevented. Moreover, by being comprised from the said dye-sensitized solar cell element, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention can be made into a high performance.
Further, according to the present invention, since it has a solid electrolyte layer, compared to the case where it has an electrolyte layer formed by enclosing a liquid electrolyte in a space composed of a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a sealing member, The power generation area of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be increased. In addition, since a solid electrolyte layer can be used, a simple manufacturing method can be used, so that the productivity of the dye-sensitized solar cell module can be increased, and the handling is easy. Therefore, it can be made excellent in workability.

  In the present invention, the solid electrolyte layer is preferably formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is larger than the size of the porous layer. This is because the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention can be more suitably prevented.

  In the present invention, the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is the same as the width of the second electrode layer or larger than the width of the second electrode layer. It is preferable that a layer is formed. Since it is possible to form a solid electrolyte layer at the end of the second electrode layer that easily contacts the first electrode layer in one dye-sensitized solar cell element, an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element Can be more suitably prevented.

  According to the present invention, since the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as or larger than the size of the porous layer, the dye sensitization of the present invention is performed. Since it is possible to dispose a solid electrolyte layer in a region on the end side of the dye-sensitized solar cell element constituting the solar cell element module, it is preferable to generate an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element There exists an effect that it becomes possible to prevent.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the 2nd electrode base material used for the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, and a porous layer. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the 1st electrode base material formation process in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is process drawing which shows an example of the board | substrate preparation process for 2nd electrode base materials in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, a porous layer formation process, a solid electrolyte layer formation process, and a cutting process. It is process drawing which shows an example of the porous layer formation process in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. It is process drawing which shows the board | substrate preparation process for 2nd electrode base materials in the manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, and the other example of a cutting process. It is the schematic which shows the shape etc. of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module in Example 1 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention will be described.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes a first electrode base material having a first base material and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first base material. It is formed on any one of a plurality of second electrode base materials having an electrode layer, the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a dye sensitizer, and the second electrode of the first electrode layer or the second electrode substrate of the first electrode substrate. Of the layers, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer, the first electrode layer, A dye-sensitized solar cell element having a second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer The first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the other of the other dye-sensitized solar cell elements adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. A dye-sensitized solar cell module in which two electrode layers are electrically connected, wherein the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is the same as the size of the porous layer, or The solid electrolyte layer is formed so as to be larger than the size of the porous layer.

  In the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, since at least one of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode substrate serves as a sunlight receiving surface, the first electrode is usually used in the present invention. A substrate having transparency is used for at least one of the substrate and the second electrode substrate.

  Here, the transparency of the “substrate having transparency” is such that the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention receives sunlight so that it can function by receiving sunlight. Although it will not specifically limit if it is a grade which can permeate | transmit, it is desirable that it is 50% or more of total light transmittance. In addition, the said transparency is the value measured by the measuring method based on JISK7361-1: 1997.

  Moreover, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, the electrode layer in which the porous layer is formed is usually used as the oxide semiconductor electrode layer among the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer. The electrode layer in which the porous layer is not formed is used as a counter electrode layer.

  In the present invention, “formed on the electrode layer” means not only the case where it is formed directly on the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, but also the case where it is formed via another layer. It is a concept that includes.

Here, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig.1 (a) is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of Fig.1 (a). In FIG. 1A, the region where the solid electrolyte layer and the porous layer are disposed is indicated by a dotted line.
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 of the present invention was formed in a pattern on one sheet of the first base material 11 and the first base material 11. Formed on the first electrode substrate 10 having the plurality of first electrode layers 12, the plurality of second electrode substrates 20 having at least the second electrode layer 22, and the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode substrate 20 Are formed between a plurality of porous layers 3 containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying a dye sensitizer, and the first electrode layer 11 and the porous layer 3 of the first electrode substrate 10, And a plurality of solid electrolyte layers 4 containing a redox pair. In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, at least between the solid electrolyte layer 4 facing the porous layer 3 and the first electrode layer 11 of the first electrode substrate 10. The catalyst layer 5 may be included.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 of the present invention includes a dye-sensitized solar cell element having the first electrode layer 12, the second electrode layer 22, the porous layer 3, the solid electrolyte layer 4, and the catalyst layer 5. 1 is connected to the first electrode layer 12 of one dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 and another dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element 1. The second electrode layer 22 is electrically connected. In FIG. 1 (a), a connection part a including the end of the short side of the stripe of the first electrode layer 12 formed in a stripe shape, and a strip of each second electrode layer 22 formed in a strip shape. The first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 are connected to the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 using the connection part b (the part indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. This is an example of electrical connection (hereinafter, simply referred to as internal connection in some cases).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 of the present invention has a size of the solid electrolyte layer 4 of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 equal to the size of the porous layer 3. The solid electrolyte layer 4 is formed so as to be the same.

FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic plan view showing another example of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2 (a). is there. As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 of the present invention has a porous layer in which the solid electrolyte layer 4 of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is a porous layer. The solid electrolyte layer 4 is formed so as to be larger than 3. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2A, the catalyst layer 5 is formed on the entire surface of the electrode layer on which the porous layer 3 is not formed (the first electrode layer 10 in FIG. 2A). May be formed.
Note that reference numerals and the like not described in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be the same as those in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

3 (a) and 4 (a) are schematic plan views showing another example of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 4A.
The dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B includes the ends of the long sides of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12. An example in which the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 are internally connected in the connection portion a and the connection portion b including the ends of the long sides of the strips of the second electrode layers 22 is shown. 3A and 3B, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer 4 of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is the same as the size of the porous layer 3. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the solid electrolyte layer is so formed that the size of the solid electrolyte layer 4 of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is larger than the size of the porous layer 3. An example in which 4 is formed is shown.
3 (a), 3 (b) and FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), the reference numerals and the like that are not described can be the same as those in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b). Description of is omitted.

  According to the present invention, the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is the same as the size of the porous layer or larger than the size of the porous layer. Therefore, in one dye-sensitized solar cell element, a solid electrolyte layer is formed in a region on the end side of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in which contact between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is likely to occur. Therefore, an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be suitably prevented. Moreover, by being comprised from the said dye-sensitized solar cell element, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention can be made into a high performance.

  Further, according to the present invention, since it has a solid electrolyte layer, compared to the case of using an electrolyte layer in which a liquid electrolyte is sealed in a space composed of a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a sealing member, The power generation area of the dye-sensitized solar cell module can be increased and can be easily handled. Moreover, since it becomes possible to manufacture a dye-sensitized solar cell element module using a simple manufacturing method, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be made highly productive. .

  The details of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described below.

I. Size of Solid Electrolyte Layer The size of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is the same as the size of the porous layer or larger than the size of the porous layer.

In the present invention, “the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer” means that the solid electrolyte layer is formed on the entire surface of the porous layer and the position of the end of the solid electrolyte layer. And the position of the end portion of the porous layer coincide with each other.
Further, “the position of the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end portion of the porous layer match” means that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element. There is no particular limitation as long as the position of the end of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end of the porous layer match, and the shape of the longitudinal section of the dye-sensitized solar cell element and the shape in plan view are observed. In this case, the position of the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end portion of the porous layer are not only the same as the position of the end portion of the porous layer. This is a concept that includes the case where partially matches.

Hereinafter, a case where “the position of the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end portion of the porous layer partially match” will be described.
Here, as a formation method of the 2nd electrode base material in this invention, the board | substrate for 2nd electrode base materials which can cut out several 2nd electrode base materials is used for the 1st of the 1st electrode base material. A method of forming the second electrode substrate by cutting into a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the electrode layer can be suitably used. When the second electrode substrate forming method is used, a porous layer, a solid electrolyte layer, or a laminate of a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed, and then the second electrode substrate is used. A porous layer, a solid electrolyte layer, or a porous layer having a pattern corresponding to the pattern shape of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material on the second electrode base material by cutting the substrate into a desired shape; A laminated body of solid electrolyte layers can be formed.
However, when a porous layer, a solid electrolyte layer, or a laminate of a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer is formed on the second electrode substrate by the above-described forming method, the porous layer, the solid electrolyte layer, or the porous layer When cutting the substrate for the second electrode base material on which the laminate of the layer and the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed, the porous layer or the solid electrolyte layer may be cracked or chipped. Therefore, in the obtained second electrode substrate, the end of the porous layer and the end of the solid electrolyte layer are not continuously linear or curved when observed from a plan view. There may be a protruding portion where the porous layer or the solid electrolyte layer protrudes, or a missing portion where the porous layer or the solid electrolyte layer is partially lost.

  In the present invention, the end portion of the porous layer and the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer have the protruding portion and the missing portion as described above, so that the position of the end portion of the porous layer and the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer can be reduced. Even when the positions do not completely match, the position of the end of the solid electrolyte layer and the end of the porous layer can be prevented to the extent that an internal short circuit can be prevented from occurring in the dye-sensitized solar cell element. When the position partially matches, it is assumed that “the position of the end of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end of the porous layer match”.

  Further, “the position of the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end portion of the porous layer partially coincide with each other” specifically means that the end portion has the protruding portion and the missing portion described above. In the laminate of the solid electrolyte layer and the porous layer, when the width of the porous layer is 100%, a range of ± 20% of the width of the porous layer from one end of the porous layer The end of the solid electrolyte layer is present within the range of preferably ± 10% width, more preferably within the range of ± 5%. In addition, “within the range of + width” refers to a range outside the end portion of the porous layer, and “within the range of − width” refers to a range inside the end portion of the porous layer. Point to. The above numerical range is a value considering both ends in one width of the porous layer.

  In the present invention, when “the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer”, it is preferable to reduce the amount of the material used for the solid electrolyte layer in order to reduce the manufacturing cost. . Therefore, also from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of material used for the solid electrolyte layer, it is preferable to set the positional relationship between the end of the porous layer and the end of the solid electrolyte layer within the above numerical range.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, “the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer” means that the entire surface of the porous layer and a region where the porous layer is not formed (hereinafter referred to as a porous layer non-forming region). In some cases, the solid electrolyte layer is formed continuously.

  In this case, the formation position in plan view of the solid electrolyte layer in the porous layer non-formation region should be a position that can prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may be formed continuously along the end of the porous layer 3 as shown in FIG. 5A, as shown in FIG. 5B. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may be formed discontinuously along the end of the porous layer 3. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are schematic plan views in which the second electrode base material is omitted in the dye-sensitized solar cell module having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 (a). It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer.

Note that “the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed along the end of the porous layer” means, for example, when the shape of the porous layer is a shape having a plurality of sides such as a rectangular shape and a polygonal shape. The solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed at the end of at least one side of the plurality of sides.
On the other hand, when the shape of the porous layer is a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a shape having an end side composed of a continuous curve, it means that the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed on the end side.
In addition, “continuously formed” means not only the case where the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed on at least one edge or all edges, but also at least one edge or edge. This includes the case where the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed except for a part of the side.

  Further, in the present invention, “the solid electrolyte layer is formed discontinuously along the end portion of the porous layer” means that the solid electrolyte layer is formed at predetermined intervals along the end portion of the porous layer. It points to that.

II. Layer Configuration of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention has a solid electrolyte layer formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer has the above-described size.
In addition, the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is specifically an embodiment in which the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer (hereinafter referred to as the following). The first mode) and the mode in which the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer (hereinafter referred to as the second mode). It has an aspect.
Hereinafter, each aspect will be described.

1st aspect The layer structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element of this aspect is a layer structure in which the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer.

  As the layer structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, the solid electrolyte layer can be formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer, and the first electrode substrate There is no particular limitation as long as it is a layer configuration in which a solid electrolyte layer and a porous layer having the same size can be disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.

  Here, in this aspect, the porous layer only needs to be formed on either the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. However, it is more preferable that the porous layer is formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. As will be described later, the formation method of the porous layer is preferably a formation method including a baking treatment. By using a metal substrate having high heat resistance as the second electrode substrate, the porous layer includes the baking treatment. This is because it can be formed by the forming method.

  Therefore, the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in this aspect is a space between the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material and the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. It is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer has a layer structure.

Here, when the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in this embodiment is the above-described layer configuration, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer that configure the dye-sensitized solar cell element are: All are arranged so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
“The second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer are arranged so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate” means that the dye-sensitized solar cell of the present invention is used. The dye-sensitized solar cell element constituting the element module was formed in a pattern on the first electrode substrate so as to have the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer. It means that the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer are disposed on the plurality of first electrode layers, respectively. More specifically, it means that the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer do not have a discontinuous pattern on one first electrode layer and are continuously arranged.
Hereinafter, the layer configuration will be described in detail.

In the following description, “the width of the solid electrolyte layer or the width of the porous layer is smaller than the width of the electrode layer” means inside the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer (inside from each end). It means that a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer is formed.
Further, “the width of the solid electrolyte layer or the width of the porous layer is the same as the width of the electrode layer” means that the solid electrolyte layer or the porous layer is formed on the entire surface of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, The case where the position of the edge part of a 1st electrode layer or a 2nd electrode layer and the position of the edge part of a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer correspond is said.
Note that “the position of the end portion of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer and the position of the end portion of the solid electrolyte layer or the porous layer coincide with each other” is described above. And the position of the end of the porous layer coincide with each other ”, and the description thereof is omitted here.
Further, “the width of the solid electrolyte layer or the width of the porous layer is larger than the width of the electrode layer” means that the entire surface on the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer and the end portion of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer. The solid electrolyte layer or the porous layer is continuously formed on the outside.

  As the arrangement of the second electrode layer in the above layer configuration, it is possible to arrange the second electrode layer so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, and the second of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element. The arrangement is not particularly limited as long as the two electrode layers are not in contact with each other, but the arrangement is such that the width of the second electrode layer is the same as the width of the first electrode layer or larger than the width of the first electrode layer. It is preferable. This is because the power generation area of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be increased. The magnitude relationship between the width of the second electrode layer and the width of the first electrode layer is the same as the detail relationship between the width of the solid electrolyte layer or the width of the porous layer and the width of the electrode layer. The description here is omitted.

  As the arrangement of the porous layer in this embodiment, it can be formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, the solid electrolyte layer can be formed on the entire surface of the porous layer, and the first electrode substrate If a porous layer can be arrange | positioned so as to correspond to the pattern of the 1st electrode layer of material, it will not specifically limit. Especially, it is preferable that the arrangement is such that the width of the porous layer is the same as the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. In one dye-sensitized solar cell element, a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer can be disposed at the end of the second electrode layer that is easily in contact with the first electrode layer. It is possible to more suitably prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit. Moreover, when it is set as the formation position mentioned above, as above-mentioned, when cut and forming a 2nd electrode base material from the board | substrate for 2nd electrode base materials, a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer are cut out to a desired shape. This is because a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer having the same size can be formed by a simple method.

Note that “the width of the porous layer is the same as the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate” means that the porous layer is formed on the entire surface of the second electrode layer as described above. Refers to cases. Moreover, as a case where “a porous layer is continuously formed from one end of the second electrode layer to the other end of the second electrode layer in a part of the second electrode layer”, for example, FIG. 6 (a) and 6 (b), a case where the porous layer 3 is formed on the entire surface excluding the connection portion b of the second electrode layer 22 can be exemplified. 6A is a schematic plan view showing an example of the second electrode substrate 20 and the porous layer 3 used in the dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view showing an example of the second electrode substrate 20 and the porous layer 3 used in the dye-sensitized solar cell module 100 shown in FIG.

Next, the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer will be described.
The arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in the present embodiment is particularly limited as long as the width of the solid electrolyte layer and the width of the porous layer are the same and the internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be prevented. Specifically, the arrangement is such that it can be formed on the entire surface of the porous layer. Here, as described above, the porous layer is preferably disposed so that the width of the porous layer and the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate are the same. As an arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in the aspect, it is preferable that the width of the solid electrolyte layer and the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate are the same.

  Moreover, as arrangement | positioning of the solid electrolyte layer in this aspect, it can respond to the pattern of the 1st electrode layer of a 1st electrode base material, and can prevent the internal short circuit of a dye-sensitized solar cell element. If it is arrangement | positioning, it will not specifically limit. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the solid electrolyte layer 4 may be arranged so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is smaller than the width of the first electrode layer 12, as shown in FIG. In addition, the solid electrolyte layer 4 may be arranged so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is the same as the width of the first electrode layer 12, and as shown in FIG. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may be disposed so as to be larger than the width of the first electrode layer 12.

  In this embodiment, the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 and the width of the first electrode layer 12 are the same, or the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 7B, among others. The arrangement is preferably larger than the width of the first electrode layer 12 (the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is equal to or greater than the width of the first electrode layer 12). This is because the area capable of contributing to power generation in the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 can be increased. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7B in particular, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is preferably disposed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is larger than the width of the first electrode layer 12. In the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1, the solid electrolyte layer 4 can be disposed outside the end portion of the first electrode layer 12 that is easily in contact with the second electrode layer 22. Therefore, the dye-sensitized solar cell This is because an internal short circuit of the element 1 can be more suitably prevented.

  Here, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, the first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and another dye-sensitized solar cell adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element In the case of internally connecting the second electrode layer of the element, the pattern shape of the first electrode layer 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 is as shown in FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 3 (a), and (b). It is preferable that the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode base material 20 has a connection part b. When the dye-sensitized solar cell element has the connection portion described above, the porous layer and the solid electrolyte layer are not formed in the connection portion of each electrode layer of each electrode base material. It is preferable to take the arrangement of each layer described above.

The case where the dye-sensitized solar cell element has a connecting portion for internal connection will be described by taking the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as an example. To do. In the case of having the above-described configuration, the arrangement of the porous layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is an arrangement that can prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1, but FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the width of the porous layer 3 is the same as the width of the second electrode layer 12 except for the connection portion b of the second electrode layer 22, that is, the connection portion b of the second electrode layer 22 is the same. It is preferable that the porous layer 3 is disposed on the entire surface of the second electrode layer 12 excluding.
The formation position of the solid electrolyte layer 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can prevent the occurrence of an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1, but excludes the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12. In part, the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is equal to or greater than the width of the first electrode layer 12, that is, as shown in FIG. 3B, at least the first electrode layer 12 except for the connection part a of the first electrode layer 12. The solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed on the entire surface, or, as shown in FIG. 8, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed on the entire surface of the first electrode layer 12 excluding the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12, and It is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed outside the end opposite to the end included in the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12. As shown in FIG. 8, when the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed outside the end opposite to the end including the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12, the solid electrolyte layer 4 It arrange | positions to such an extent that the connection of the 1st electrode layer 12 and the 2nd electrode layer 22 of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is not prevented.

  In the above description, a solid electrolyte layer is mainly formed between the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate and the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. In the present embodiment, the layer structure is not limited to the above-described layer structure, and the porous layer formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material and the second electrode base material It is also possible to employ a layer configuration in which a solid electrolyte layer is formed between two electrode layers.

  As the arrangement of the layers in the layer configuration, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer can be arranged so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, An arrangement capable of forming a solid electrolyte layer so that the size of the electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer and preventing the occurrence of an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element The width of the solid electrolyte layer and the width of the porous layer are preferably equal to or greater than the width of the first electrode layer and the width of the second electrode layer. This is because the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be more suitably prevented by adopting the above layer configuration.

2. Second Embodiment The layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element of the present embodiment is a layer configuration in which the solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer.

  As the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element of this embodiment, the solid electrolyte layer can be formed such that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer, and the first electrode group If it is a layer structure which can arrange | position the said solid electrolyte layer and porous layer between the 1st electrode layer of a material and the 2nd electrode layer of a 2nd electrode base material, it will not specifically limit.

  Here, in this aspect, the porous layer may be formed on either the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. However, it is more preferable that the porous layer is formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. The reason for this can be the same as the reason described in the section of the first aspect described above, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  Therefore, the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in this aspect is a space between the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material and the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material. It is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer has a layer structure.

Here, when the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present embodiment is the layer configuration described above, a porous layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and the like constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell device, as in the first embodiment, The second electrode layer is disposed so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
Hereinafter, the arrangement of each layer in the layer configuration of the dye-sensitized solar cell element will be described in detail.

  Since the arrangement of the second electrode layer and the arrangement of the porous layer in this aspect can be the same as the arrangement of the porous layer described in the first aspect, the description is omitted here. .

  As the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in this aspect, the solid electrolyte layer can be arranged so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer. The arrangement is not particularly limited as long as it is an arrangement corresponding to the pattern of the electrode layer and can prevent an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element.

  Here, as described above, the porous layer is preferably disposed so that the width of the porous layer and the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate are the same. The arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer in the aspect is preferably such an arrangement that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.

  Here, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element of this embodiment, since the power generation area is preferably large, the first electrode layer 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 is shown in FIG. And the width of the porous layer 3 formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode substrate 20 are the same or not shown, but the width of the porous layer is larger than the width of the first electrode layer It is preferable to become. Therefore, in this aspect, it is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer is disposed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the first electrode layer. In this case, the solid electrolyte layer is usually formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate.

When the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the first electrode layer, as the formation position of the solid electrolyte layer, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first electrode layer 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 is used. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may be formed on the first electrode layer 12 side of the first electrode substrate 10 so as to have a pattern corresponding to this pattern. As shown in FIG. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may be continuously formed on the first electrode layer 12 side of the first electrode substrate 10 so as to cover the plurality of first electrode layers 12.
In the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, even if the solid electrolyte layer and the porous layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are in contact with each other, no short circuit occurs.

  In this embodiment, among them, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the solid electrolyte layer 4 has the first electrode substrate so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer 12 of the first electrode substrate 10. It is preferably formed on the first electrode layer 12 side of the material 10. Compared with the case where the solid electrolyte layer is continuously arranged on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material, the leakage current is less likely to occur, so that the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention is more capable of generating power. High efficiency and high performance can be achieved.

  When the solid electrolyte layer is formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate, the pattern shape of the solid electrolyte layer Is appropriately selected according to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

  Here, as described in the section of the first aspect described above, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, the first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the one dye-sensitized solar cell When internally connecting the second electrode layer of another dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the battery element, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 4 (a), and (b), the first electrode It is preferable that the pattern shape of the first electrode layer 12 of the substrate 10 has a connection portion a, and the shape of the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode substrate 20 has a connection portion b. In this case, since the porous layer and the solid electrolyte layer are not formed at the connection portion of each electrode layer, the arrangement of the porous layer and the solid electrolyte layer described above can be taken at a portion other than the connection portion. preferable.

The case where the dye-sensitized solar cell element has a connecting portion for internal connection will be described by taking the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B as an example. .
When the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 has the above-described configuration, the arrangement of the porous layer 3 can be the same as the arrangement described in the section of the first aspect described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. .
The arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is not particularly limited as long as the internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 can be prevented, but in this embodiment, the size of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is porous. Since it is arranged so as to be larger than the size of the layer 3, normally, as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 10, the entire surface of the porous layer 3 and the second electrode substrate 20 The solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed outside the end opposite to the end included in the connection portion b of the second electrode layer 22.
Further, the arrangement of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is such that the width of the solid electrolyte layer 4 is equal to or greater than the width of the first electrode layer 12 except for the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12, that is, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed on the entire surface of the first electrode layer 12 excluding the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12, and the connection portion of the first electrode layer 12 as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed on the entire surface of the first electrode layer 12 excluding a and on the outer side of the end opposite to the end included in the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12. As described in the section of the first aspect, as shown in FIG. 10, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed outside the end opposite to the end included in the connection portion a of the first electrode layer 12. In such a case, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is disposed to such an extent that the connection between the first electrode layer 12 and the second electrode layer 22 of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 is not hindered.

  In the above description, a solid electrolyte layer is mainly formed between the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate and the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. In the present embodiment, the layer structure is not limited to the above-described layer structure, and the porous layer formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material and the second electrode base material It is also possible to employ a layer configuration in which a solid electrolyte layer is formed between two electrode layers.

  As the arrangement of the layers in the layer configuration, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer can be arranged so as to correspond to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, It is possible to form a solid electrolyte layer so that the size of the electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer and to prevent an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element. Although not particularly limited, it is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer be disposed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the width of the porous layer, the width of the first electrode layer, and the width of the second electrode layer. This is because the occurrence of an internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be more suitably prevented by adopting the above layer configuration.

3. Layer Configuration of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention can employ either the layer configuration of the first aspect described above or the layer configuration of the second aspect. It is more preferable to adopt the layer structure. This is because, by employing the layer configuration of the second aspect, it is possible to more suitably prevent the internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element.

III. Configuration of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element Module A dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes a single first base material and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first base material. A first electrode substrate having a plurality of second electrode substrates having at least a second electrode layer, a first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate, or a second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. A plurality of porous layers containing metal oxide semiconductor fine particles formed on any one of the electrode layers and carrying a dye sensitizer, and the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the first electrode layer. Of the second electrode layer of the two-electrode base material, the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing a redox pair formed between the porous layer and the porous layer. The first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer A plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements having a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements, each of which is connected to the first electrode layer of the one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the other one adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. The second electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is electrically connected.

  Hereinafter, each structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention will be described.

1. Solid Electrolyte Layer The solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed, of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. And a plurality of solid electrolyte layers formed between the porous layers and containing redox pairs. The solid electrolyte layer is formed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as or larger than the width of the porous layer.

  Here, the solid electrolyte layer contains a redox couple and does not exhibit fluidity. There is no particular limitation as long as it has a hardness that can be held between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer without using a sealing member or the like. The solid electrolyte layer is an all-solid electrolyte layer in which only a solid material is used, or a quasi-solid electrolyte in which fine particles of an inorganic compound such as a metal oxide or a polymer compound such as rubber or resin are added to a liquid material ("Pseudo-solid electrolyte" is sometimes called "gel electrolyte layer").

(1) Structure of Solid Electrolyte Layer The shape of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is such that the size thereof is the same as the size of the porous layer or larger than the size of the porous layer, and Although it will not specifically limit if it is a shape corresponding to the pattern of the 1st electrode layer of 1 electrode base material, As demonstrated in the above-mentioned item of "II. Layer constitution of a dye-sensitized solar cell element". It is preferable that the solid electrolyte layer has such a shape that it can be disposed.

  Specifically, when the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer, the solid electrolyte layer is formed on the entire surface of the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer side of the second electrode substrate. It is preferable that the shape of the solid electrolyte layer be the same as that of the second electrode layer.

  On the other hand, when the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer, the shape of the solid electrolyte layer is a shape that can be formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate. It is preferable. In this case, the shape of the solid electrolyte layer may be formed on the entire surface of the first electrode substrate so as to cover the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate. It may have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the material.

“The shape of the solid electrolyte layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate” means that the dye-sensitized solar cell constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention is used. The solid electrolyte layer can be formed on a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first electrode substrate so that each battery element has a solid electrolyte layer. It has the pattern which becomes.
More specifically, it means that one solid electrolyte layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously formed on one first electrode layer.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the shape of the solid electrolyte layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
The pattern shape of the solid electrolyte layer is appropriately selected depending on the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material. FIG. 2 (a), FIG. 4 (a), (b), etc. As shown in FIG. 3, when the pattern shape of the first electrode layer 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 in the present invention is a stripe shape, the solid electrolyte layer 4 is formed outside the end of at least one long side of the stripe. It is preferable that it is a pattern shape which can do.

Here, the shape of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can exhibit excellent workability with respect to bending when a flexible substrate is used as the first substrate. This is the shape. In addition, when a plurality of first electrode layers are formed in a stripe shape on the first substrate, the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention has workability in the arrangement direction of each stripe of the first electrode layer. Greatly improved. Therefore, in each dye-sensitized solar cell element, the distance between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is easily changed at the end of the long side of the stripe of the first electrode layer. There is concern that an internal short circuit is likely to occur due to contact of the electrode layers.
Therefore, the occurrence of an internal short circuit in the dye-sensitized solar cell element can be more effectively prevented by disposing the solid electrolyte layer at the end of the long side of each stripe of the first electrode layer. .

  The thickness of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention is preferably in the range of 10 nm to 100 μm, more preferably in the range of 1 μm to 50 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 5 μm to 30 μm. This is because when the thickness of the solid electrolyte layer is less than the above range, the solid electrolyte layer does not function sufficiently and the power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module may be reduced. Moreover, it is because it will become difficult to form the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention in a thin film, when the film thickness of the said solid electrolyte layer exceeds the said range.

(2) Material of solid electrolyte layer The material of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention contains a redox pair.

(A) Redox Pair Next, the redox couple used for the solid electrolyte layer will be described.
In the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention, the redox couple is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used in the electrolyte layer of a dye-sensitized solar cell. Specifically, a combination of iodine and iodide and a combination of bromine and bromide are preferable. For example, as a combination of iodine and iodide, a combination of metal iodide such as LiI, NaI, KI, and CaI ₂ and I ₂ can be mentioned. Further, examples of the combination of bromine and bromide include a combination of a metal bromide such as LiBr, NaBr, KBr, and CaBr ₂ and Br ₂ .

  Moreover, as content of the said oxidation reduction pair, the ratio of the oxidation reduction pair which occupies for a solid electrolyte layer exists in the range of 1 mass%-50 mass%, especially within the range of 5 mass%-35 mass%. Is preferred.

(B) Other components In the solid electrolyte layer used in the present invention, necessary components can be appropriately added in addition to the above-described redox couple.
Hereinafter, such components will be described.

(I) Polymer Compound The solid electrolyte layer in the present invention preferably contains a polymer compound. This is because when the solid electrolyte layer contains a polymer compound, the strength of the solid electrolyte layer can be increased.
Hereinafter, the polymer compound used in the solid electrolyte layer will be described.

  Examples of the polymer compound in the solid electrolyte layer include polyether, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid alkyl ester, polymethacrylic acid alkyl ester, polycaprolactone, polyhexamethylene carbonate, polysiloxane, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and polyacrylonitrile. Polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, polyhexafluoropropylene, polyfluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, a polymer having a main chain of polyacrylonitrile or a copolymer of two or more of these monomer components is preferably used. Can do.

  Moreover, as a high molecular compound used for the said solid electrolyte layer, a cellulose resin can be mentioned. Since the cellulosic resin has high heat resistance, the electrolyte layer solidified with the cellulosic resin does not leak even at high temperatures and has high thermal stability. Specifically, cellulose acetate (CA) such as cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate and cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose such as cellulose nitrate Examples thereof include cellulose ethers such as esters, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, benzylcellulose, cyanoethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose. Any of these cellulose resins may be used alone, or two or more thereof may be used in combination.

  Among cellulose resins, a cationic cellulose derivative is particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of compatibility with the electrolyte solution. The cationic cellulose derivative means a product obtained by cationization by reacting a cellulose or an OH group of the derivative with a cationizing agent. By containing the cationic cellulose derivative, it is possible to obtain a solid electrolyte layer that is excellent in retention of the electrolytic solution, and that has no leakage of the electrolytic solution, particularly at high temperature or under pressure, and excellent in thermal stability.

  The molecular weight of the cellulose-based resin as described above varies depending on the type of the cellulose-based resin and is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of obtaining good film-forming properties when forming the electrolyte layer, the mass average molecular weight is 10,000 or more. (Polystyrene conversion), and particularly preferably within the range of 100,000 to 200,000. For example, when ethyl cellulose is used as the cellulosic resin, it is a value obtained by dissolving ethyl cellulose at 2% by mass in water and measuring the viscosity at 30 ° C., within a range of 5 mPa · s to 1000 mPa · s, particularly 10 mPa. -It is preferable to set it as the molecular weight which shows the viscosity in the range of s-500mPa * s.

  The glass transition temperature of the cellulose resin is preferably in the range of 80 ° C. to 150 ° C. in order to obtain sufficient thermal stability of the electrolyte layer.

  The polymer compound used in the present invention is preferably a transparent compound. When the polymer compound has transparency, the transparency of the solid electrolyte layer can be further improved. Further, by improving the transparency of the solid electrolyte layer, the appearance of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be improved. In addition, when the solid electrolyte layer penetrates into the porous layer, it is possible to prevent light from being blocked by the solid electrolyte layer, thereby improving the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. It becomes possible to make it.

  The content of such a polymer compound is appropriately set in consideration of the above because the thermal stability of the solid electrolyte layer is lowered when it is too low, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell is lowered when it is too high. The Specifically, it is preferable to contain 5 mass%-60 mass% in the material which comprises a solid electrolyte layer. If the polymer compound in the material constituting the solid electrolyte layer has a proportion lower than the above range, sufficient adhesion to the porous layer described later may not be obtained, and the solid electrolyte layer itself This is not preferable because it may lead to a decrease in the mechanical strength. On the other hand, if the ratio is higher than the above range, a large amount of insulating polymer compound is present, which is not preferable because the function of transporting charges may be hindered.

(Ii) Other components The solid electrolyte layer in this invention can contain arbitrary components other than the polymeric compound mentioned above. An example of such a component is an ionic liquid.

(3) Forming method of solid electrolyte layer As a forming method of the solid electrolyte layer in the present invention, particularly, if the solid electrolyte layer can be formed so that the dye-sensitized solar cell element has the layer configuration described above, It is not limited, The method of apply | coating the material of the solid electrolyte layer mentioned above using the general apply | coating method can be mentioned.
The solid electrolyte layer may be formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material, or may be formed on the second electrode layer side of the second electrode base material.

When the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer, the solid electrolyte layer is preferably formed on the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.
As described above, the second electrode base material can be formed by cutting the second electrode base material substrate. Therefore, after the solid electrolyte layer is continuously formed on the second electrode base material substrate in advance, the second electrode base material substrate is cut to obtain a porous layer and a solid electrolyte layer having the same size. This is because it can be formed by a simple forming method.

  On the other hand, when the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer, the solid electrolyte layer is usually formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate.

2. Porous layer The porous layer in the present invention is formed on the surface of either the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, and is dye-sensitized. It contains metal oxide semiconductor fine particles carrying an agent.

(1) Structure of porous layer The shape of the porous layer in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a shape corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material. As described in the section “Layer configuration of sensitive solar cell element”, it is preferable that the porous layer can be disposed.

Moreover, although the said porous layer in this invention can be formed in any one on the several 1st electrode layer of a 1st electrode base material, or the 2nd electrode layer of a 2nd electrode base material. In both cases where the size of the solid electrolyte layer is the same as the size of the porous layer, or the size of the solid electrolyte layer is larger than the size of the porous layer, the second electrode of the second electrode substrate A shape that can be formed on the layer is preferable, and in particular, a shape in which the width of the porous layer and the width of the second electrode layer are the same is preferable.
In this case, the shape of the porous layer is usually a shape having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
“The shape of the porous layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate” means that the dye-sensitized solar cell constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention is used. The porous layer can be formed on a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first electrode substrate so that each battery element has a porous layer. It has the pattern which becomes.
More specifically, it means that one porous layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously formed on one porous layer.

  When the porous layer is formed on the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode substrate, the shape of the porous layer is formed on the first electrode substrate side of the first electrode substrate described above. Since it can be made the same as the shape of a solid electrolyte layer, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  The thickness of the porous layer in the present invention can be appropriately determined according to the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention, and is not particularly limited. In particular, the thickness of the porous layer in the present invention is usually preferably in the range of 1 μm to 100 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 3 μm to 30 μm.

(2) Material of porous layer The porous layer of the present invention has metal oxide semiconductor fine particles and a dye sensitizer.
Hereinafter, each of the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles and the dye sensitizer will be described.

(A) Metal oxide semiconductor fine particle The metal oxide semiconductor fine particle is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a metal oxide having semiconductor characteristics. Examples of the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles include TiO ₂ , ZnO, SnO ₂ , ITO, ZrO ₂ , MgO, Al ₂ O ₃ , CeO ₂ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , Mn ₃ O ₄ , Y ₂ O ₃ , WO ₃ , Ta ₂ O ₅ , Nb ₂ O ₅ , La ₂ O _{3 and the} like can be mentioned.
In particular, in the present invention, it is most preferable to use metal oxide semiconductor fine particles made of TiO ₂ . This is because TiO ₂ is particularly excellent in semiconductor characteristics.

The average particle diameter of the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles is usually preferably in the range of 1 nm to 10 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm.
The average particle size of the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles means the primary particle size.

(B) Dye sensitizer The dye sensitizer is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb light and generate an electromotive force. Examples of such a dye sensitizer include organic dyes and metal complex dyes. Examples of the organic dyes include acridine, azo, indigo, quinone, coumarin, merocyanine, phenylxanthene, indoline, and carbazole dyes. In the present invention, among these organic dyes, a coumarin dye is preferably used. Further, as the metal complex dye, it is preferable to use a ruthenium dye, and it is particularly preferable to use a ruthenium bipyridine dye and a ruthenium terpyridine dye which are ruthenium complexes. This is because such a ruthenium complex has a wide wavelength range of light to be absorbed, so that the wavelength range of light that can be photoelectrically converted can be greatly expanded.

(C) Optional component The porous layer may contain an optional component in addition to the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles. As an arbitrary component in this invention, resin can be mentioned, for example. It is because the brittleness of the porous layer in the present invention can be improved by containing the resin in the porous layer.

  Examples of the resin that can be used for the porous layer in the present invention include polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, caprolactan, and the like.

(3) Formation method of porous layer As a formation method of the porous layer in the present invention, a desired thickness is formed on the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode substrate or on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. The method is not particularly limited as long as it can form a porous layer.

  Moreover, in this invention, as above-mentioned, it is preferable to form a porous layer on the 2nd electrode layer of a 2nd electrode base material. In this case, a porous layer having a desired shape can be formed by continuously forming a porous layer on the second electrode substrate and then cutting the second electrode substrate. This is because the porous layer can be formed by a simpler method than when the porous layer is formed in a pattern on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

In addition, as a formation method of a porous layer, the following method can be mentioned more specifically.
First, a coating liquid for forming a porous layer comprising at least the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles, a binder resin, and a solvent described above is prepared. Next, using a metal layer as the second electrode layer, on the metal layer, the prepared coating solution for forming a porous layer is applied in a desired film thickness to form a coating film for forming a porous layer, The porous layer forming layer is formed by firing the porous layer forming coating film and thermally decomposing the binder resin. Next, the porous layer is formed by attaching the above-described dye sensitizer to the surface of the porous layer forming layer.
The binder resin and the solvent used in the porous layer forming coating solution can be the same as those used in a general porous layer forming method, and thus description thereof is omitted here. Moreover, as a coating liquid for porous layer formation, a dispersing agent can also be added as needed other than the component mentioned above.
Moreover, since it can be made to be the same as that of the thing used with the formation method of a general porous layer also about the application method of a coating liquid for porous layer formation, baking conditions, etc., description here is abbreviate | omitted.

Moreover, as a formation method of a porous layer, it is also possible to use the following method.
First, the porous layer forming composition including the metal oxide semiconductor fine particles and the solvent described above is applied on the second electrode layer and dried to form the porous layer forming layer, and then the porous layer forming layer is formed. A porous layer is formed by attaching a dye sensitizer to the layer. The solvent used in the porous layer forming composition, the coating method of the porous layer forming composition, and the drying conditions are the same as those used in the general porous layer forming method. The description here is omitted.
This method can also be used when a porous layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

Moreover, as a formation method of a porous layer, it is also possible to use the following method.
Using a method similar to the method of firing and forming the porous layer on the second electrode layer described above, after forming the release layer on the heat-resistant substrate, the porous layer is disposed on the release layer, A porous layer is formed by bonding to the second electrode layer and then peeling off the heat-resistant substrate.
This method can also be used when a porous layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

3. 1st electrode base material The 1st electrode base material in this invention has the 1st base material of 1 sheet, and the some 1st electrode layer formed in the pattern form on the said 1st base material.

As a 1st electrode base material, the base material which has transparency may be sufficient, and the base material which does not have transparency may be sufficient according to the light-receiving surface of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention. Is to be selected.
When the second electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency, the first electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency or a substrate having no transparency. .
On the other hand, when the second electrode substrate is a substrate having no transparency, the first electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency.
Each will be described below.

(1) Substrate having transparency When the first electrode substrate is a substrate having transparency, the first electrode substrate is usually a transparent substrate as a first substrate and a first electrode layer. And a transparent electrode layer formed on the transparent substrate.

(A) 1st base material When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which has transparency, as above-mentioned, a transparent base material is used as a 1st base material.
The said transparent base material supports the transparent electrode layer mentioned later.

  As the transparent substrate, a transparent electrode layer to be described later can be formed, and has a self-supporting property capable of forming a dye-sensitized solar cell element constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. If it is a thing, it will not specifically limit, It may have flexibility and does not need to have flexibility.

  The “flexibility of the transparent substrate” in the present invention can be wound in a roll shape, and can impart desired processability to the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. If it is a moderate grade, it will not specifically limit. Specifically, the flexibility of the transparent substrate mentioned above refers to bending when a force of 5 KN is applied in the fine ceramic bending test method of JIS R1601.

  In the present invention, among them, it is preferable that the transparent substrate has flexibility. This is because the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made excellent in workability.

  As such a transparent substrate, specifically, an inorganic transparent substrate or a resin substrate can be used. Among these, the resin base is preferable because it is lightweight, has excellent processability, and can reduce manufacturing costs.

  Examples of the resin substrate include ethylene / tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyetherimide (PEI). , Polyimide (PI), polyester naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), and the like. Examples of the base material include biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyester naphthalate. It is preferable to use a substrate made of a resin such as (PEN) or polycarbonate (PC).

  Examples of the inorganic transparent substrate include a synthetic quartz substrate and a glass substrate.

  Moreover, although the thickness of the transparent base material in this invention can be suitably selected according to the use etc. of the said dye-sensitized solar cell element module, it is usually in the range of 5 micrometers-2000 micrometers. In particular, it is preferably in the range of 10 μm to 500 μm, more preferably in the range of 25 μm to 200 μm.

Moreover, it is preferable that the transparent base material used for this invention is excellent in heat resistance, a weather resistance, water vapor | steam, and other gas barrier properties. This is because, when the transparent substrate has gas barrier properties, for example, the temporal stability of the dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention can be increased. In particular, in the present invention, the oxygen transmission rate is 1 cc / m ² / day · atm or less under conditions of a temperature of 23 ° C. and a humidity of 90%, and the water vapor transmission rate is 1 g under the conditions of a temperature of 37.8 ° C. and a humidity of 100%. It is preferable to use a transparent substrate having a gas barrier property of / m ² / day or less. In the present invention, in order to achieve such gas barrier properties, a material in which an arbitrary gas barrier layer is provided on the transparent substrate may be used. The oxygen permeability is a value measured using an oxygen gas permeability measuring device (manufactured by Modern Control Co., Ltd., OX-TRAN 2/20: trade name). The water vapor transmission rate is a value measured using a water vapor transmission rate measuring device (manufactured by Modern Control Co., Ltd., PERMATRAN-W 3/31: trade name).

(B) 1st electrode layer When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which has transparency, as above-mentioned, a transparent electrode layer is used as a 1st electrode layer.
The transparent electrode layer is formed in a pattern on the transparent substrate described above.

  The transparent electrode layer used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has transparency and predetermined conductivity. Examples of the material used for such a transparent electrode layer include metal oxides and conductive polymer materials.

Examples of the metal oxide include SnO ₂ , ZnO, a compound in which tin is added to indium oxide (ITO), a compound in which zinc oxide is added to indium oxide (IZO), and the like. In the present invention, any of these metal oxides can be suitably used. Among these, fluorine-doped SnO ₂ (hereinafter referred to as FTO) and ITO are preferably used. This is because FTO and ITO are excellent in both conductivity and sunlight permeability.
On the other hand, examples of the conductive polymer material include polythiophene, polyaniline (PA), polypyrrole, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), and derivatives thereof. Moreover, these can also be used in mixture of 2 or more types.

The total light transmittance of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is preferably 85% or more, more preferably 90% or more, and particularly preferably 92% or more. This is because when the total light transmittance of the transparent electrode layer is in the above range, light can be sufficiently transmitted through the transparent electrode layer, and light can be efficiently absorbed by the porous layer.
The total light transmittance is a value measured using an SM color computer (model number: SM-C) manufactured by Suga Test Instruments Co., Ltd. in the visible light region.

The sheet resistance of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is preferably 500Ω / □ or less, more preferably 300Ω / □ or less, and particularly preferably 50Ω / □ or less. This is because if the sheet resistance is larger than the above range, the generated charge may not be sufficiently transmitted to the external circuit.
In addition, the said sheet resistance is measured based on JIS R1637 (Resistance test method of fine ceramics thin film: Measurement method by 4 probe method) using a surface resistance meter (Loresta MCP: Four-terminal probe) manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. It is the value.

  The transparent electrode layer in the present invention may be composed of a single layer or may be composed of a plurality of layers laminated. Examples of the configuration in which a plurality of layers are stacked include a mode in which layers made of materials having different work functions are stacked, and a mode in which layers made of different metal oxides are stacked.

The thickness of the transparent electrode layer in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as desired conductivity can be realized in accordance with the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention. Especially, as a film thickness of the transparent electrode layer in this invention, the inside of the range of 5 nm-2000 nm is preferable normally, and it is preferable that it especially exists in the range of 10 nm-1000 nm. If the thickness is thicker than the above range, it may be difficult to form a homogeneous transparent electrode layer, or the total light transmittance may be lowered and it may be difficult to obtain good photoelectric conversion efficiency. If the thickness is thinner than the above range, the conductivity of the transparent electrode layer may be insufficient.
In addition, the said thickness shall point out the total thickness which totaled the thickness of all the layers, when a transparent electrode layer is comprised from a several layer.

  The pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be obtained, and is appropriately selected depending on the use, shape, etc. of the dye-sensitized solar cell module. Although it is a thing, it is preferable that it is striped. It is because it is easy to form when forming a transparent electrode layer in pattern shape. Moreover, it is because it becomes easy to form also about the 2nd electrode base material, porous layer, solid electrolyte layer, etc. which are formed with the pattern corresponding to the pattern of a transparent electrode layer.

In the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, the first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and another dye-sensitized type adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. In the case of internally connecting the second electrode layer of the solar cell element, the pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer is preferably a pattern shape having a connection portion with the second electrode layer.
The connecting portion is not particularly limited as long as the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements can be internally connected, and the transparent electrode layer is in a stripe shape. As shown in FIG. 1A and the like, the connection portion a is a portion including the end of the short side of the stripe, and as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the connection portion a is A portion including the end portion of the long side of the stripe is preferable.

  Even when the transparent electrode layer has a pattern shape other than the stripe shape, the connection portion is provided in a portion including the end portion of the first electrode layer formed in a normal pattern shape.

  A method for forming the transparent electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as the transparent electrode layer that can be used as a plurality of first electrode layers can be formed in a predetermined pattern on the above-described transparent substrate. For example, a method of forming the transparent electrode layer by using a vapor deposition method such as a sputtering method using a metal mask, or a method of forming the transparent electrode layer material film on the entire surface of the transparent substrate and etching it into a predetermined pattern. Examples thereof include a method in which the transparent electrode layer material is a metal paste, and the metal paste is printed on a transparent substrate.

Moreover, the transparent electrode layer in this invention can also be laminated | stacked and used for an auxiliary electrode. Here, the auxiliary electrode is an electrode formed in a mesh shape using a conductive material. By using the auxiliary electrode together with the transparent electrode layer, the power generation efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be increased.
Since the auxiliary electrode can be the same as that used for a general dye-sensitized solar cell element, description thereof is omitted here.

(2) Substrate not having transparency As the substrate on which the first electrode substrate does not have transparency, it does not exhibit transparency as described in the above-mentioned “substrate having transparency”. Although it will not specifically limit if it is a base material, Usually, it has a 1st base material and the metal layer formed in pattern shape on the 1st base material.

(A) First base material The first base material may be a transparent base material or a first base material having no transparency. About a transparent base material, since it can be made to be the same as that of what was described in the item of "(1) Base material which has transparency" mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.
On the other hand, a resin-made base material can be mentioned as a 1st base material which does not have transparency.
In addition, about the resin material used for a resin-made base material, since it can be made to be the same as that of the material used for the transparent resin-made base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  The specific thickness of the first base material that does not have transparency can be the same as that described in the above-mentioned section “(1) Base material having transparency”. Description of is omitted.

(B) 1st electrode layer When the said 1st electrode base material is a base material which does not have transparency, as above-mentioned, a metal layer is used as a 1st electrode layer.
Further, the metal layer is not particularly limited as long as it can be formed in a predetermined pattern shape on the above-described first base material, but preferably has flexibility. It is because the workability of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention can be further enhanced by the flexibility of the metal layer.

  Specific examples of the metal used for the metal layer include copper, aluminum, titanium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, platinum, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, zinc, various stainless steels, and alloys thereof. Chromium, tungsten, various stainless steels and their alloys are desirable.

  Further, the thickness of the metal layer is not particularly limited as long as it functions as the first electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, but it is usually preferably in the range of 5 μm to 1000 μm, and 10 μm to 500 μm. More preferably, it is in the range of 20 μm to 200 μm.

  About the pattern shape of the said metal layer, since it can be set as the same as the pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

The method for forming the metal layer can be the same as the method for forming a general metal layer.
For example, after a metal film is formed on the first substrate by vapor deposition or the like, a metal layer having a predetermined pattern shape is formed by etching, or pattern vapor deposition on the first substrate using a metal mask or the like. Examples of the method include forming a metal layer.

(3) Other configurations The first electrode base material is not particularly limited as long as it has the first base material and the first electrode layer, and may have other configurations as necessary.

  For example, when a porous layer described later is formed on the second electrode substrate side described later, it is preferable that a catalyst layer is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.

The catalyst layer has a function that contributes to the improvement of the luminous efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module.
Examples of such a catalyst layer include, for example, an embodiment in which Pt is vapor-deposited on the first electrode layer, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), polypyrrole (PP), polyaniline (PA), derivatives thereof, and their Although the aspect which forms a catalyst layer from a mixture can be mentioned, it is not this limitation.

  The film thickness of such a catalyst layer is preferably in the range of 5 nm to 500 nm, more preferably in the range of 10 nm to 300 nm, and particularly preferably in the range of 15 nm to 100 nm.

  The method for forming the catalyst layer is not particularly limited as long as the catalyst layer can be formed with a desired thickness on the first electrode layer described above. The method for forming a catalyst layer in a general dye-sensitized solar cell element and Since it can be the same, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  Moreover, as a catalyst layer, when it is set as a dye-sensitized solar cell element, it will not specifically limit if it forms in the part which opposes the porous layer of a 1st electrode layer at least, It forms in the whole surface on a 1st electrode layer It may be formed, and may be formed in a pattern in a part of the 1st electrode layer. In addition, when the catalyst layer is formed in a pattern, it is preferably formed so as to correspond to the pattern shape of the porous layer described above.

(4) 1st electrode base material As a 1st electrode base material in this invention, although any of the base material which has transparency mentioned above and the base material which does not have transparency may be sufficient, it has transparency. A substrate is preferred.
Here, when forming the porous layer described above, it is preferable to use a method in which a metal substrate is used as the second electrode layer and the porous layer is baked and formed on the metal substrate.
Therefore, since it is preferable to use a substrate that does not have transparency as the second electrode substrate, the first electrode substrate in the present invention is preferably a substrate having transparency.

4). Second Electrode Base The second electrode base in the present invention has at least a second electrode layer.

The second electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency or a substrate having no transparency, and is appropriately selected depending on the light receiving surface of the solar cell element module of the present invention. .
When the first electrode substrate described above is a substrate having transparency, the second electrode substrate may be a substrate having transparency, or a substrate having no transparency, Also good. On the other hand, when the first electrode substrate is a substrate that does not have transparency, a transparent substrate is used as the second electrode substrate.

  Such a second electrode substrate is not limited as long as it has a function as an electrode, and may be composed of a second electrode layer, and supports the second electrode layer and the second electrode layer. It may have a 2nd substrate for doing.

  When the said 2nd electrode base material consists of a 2nd electrode layer, a single metal layer, ie, a metal base material, is specifically used as a 2nd electrode base material.

  Moreover, as a metal base material, although it may have flexibility and does not need to have flexibility, it is preferable that it has flexibility. This is because the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be made excellent in workability.

  In addition, as flexibility of a metal base material, specifically, the metal material bending test method of JIS Z 2248 indicates that it bends when a force of 5 KN is applied.

  About the metal used for the said metal base material, since it can be set as the same as the metal layer used for the 1st electrode base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  In addition, the thickness of the metal substrate can be made equal to the thickness of the metal layer used for the first electrode substrate described above.

On the other hand, when the second electrode substrate has the second electrode layer and the second substrate, the above-described transparent electrode layer or metal layer can be used as the second electrode layer. As the substrate, the above-described transparent substrate or resin substrate can be used.
In addition, as a 2nd electrode base material, the 2nd electrode layer is normally formed in the whole surface on a 2nd base material.

  About a transparent base material, a resin base material, a transparent electrode layer, and a metal layer, since it can be the same as that used for the 1st electrode base material mentioned above, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

As a 2nd electrode base material, it can have another structure as needed.
For example, when a porous layer described later is formed on the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, it is preferable to form a catalyst layer on the second electrode layer.
Note that the catalyst layer can be the same as that described in the section of the first electrode base material, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  The second electrode base material in the present invention is more preferably a second electrode layer, that is, a metal base material. This is because a metal substrate can be used as the second electrode substrate, and the porous layer can be formed by firing on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate.

In addition, the shape of the second electrode substrate is not particularly limited as long as the second electrode layers of the adjacent second electrode substrates do not contact each other in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. The shape of the second electrode substrate is usually such that the second electrode layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate.
Here, in the present invention, “the second electrode layer has a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer” means each dye-sensitized solar cell constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention. It means that the second electrode layer has a pattern that can be disposed to face each first electrode layer formed in a pattern so that the element has the second electrode layer.
More specifically, it means that one second electrode layer in the present invention has a pattern that can be continuously arranged on one first electrode layer.

  In addition, when the pattern shape of the 1st electrode layer in this invention is stripe shape, it is preferable that it is a strip shape as a shape of a 2nd electrode base material.

As a method of forming the second electrode substrate, it is possible to form a second electrode substrate having a second electrode layer having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate described above. If it is a method, it will not specifically limit. For example, by cutting a single substrate for a second electrode base material capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode base materials used in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention into a desired shape, A method of forming a two-electrode substrate can be suitably used.
In addition, when the above-described forming method is used, for example, after a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer described later is continuously formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, the second electrode substrate is formed. By cutting the material substrate, a solid electrolyte layer or a porous layer having a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material can be formed by a simple method.

5. Dye-sensitized solar cell element The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention includes the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer described above.
The dye-sensitized solar cell element in the present invention has the above-described layer configuration.

6). Dye-sensitized solar cell element module The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is composed of the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the above-mentioned one of the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell elements. One electrode layer and the second electrode layer of another dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected.

  The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as at least one dye-sensitized solar cell element has the above-described layer configuration among a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements. Usually, a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements constituting the dye-sensitized solar cell element module have the layer configuration described above.

Further, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention includes the first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the other dye-sensitized solar cells adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. The second electrode layer of the sensitive solar cell element is electrically connected.
As a method of connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to each other in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module are electrically connected. There is no particular limitation as long as the method is possible. For example, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are directly in contact with each other, or a conductive layer is formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer and connected. And a method of electrically connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements from the outside using a conductive wire or the like. it can.

  In the present invention, it is more preferable to use a method of internally connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements. This is because the connection method is simpler than the method of electrically connecting outside the dye-sensitized solar cell module.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to use a method in which a conductive layer is formed and connected between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell elements. This is because poor connection in the dye-sensitized solar cell module of the present invention can be prevented more suitably.
As a material for the conductive layer, a general conductive adhesive or the like can be used.

  Further, the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention may be one dye-sensitized solar cell element module configured by connecting a plurality of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements described above. It may be a dye-sensitized solar cell element module that is a combination of a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules that are combined and connected to increase the size.

7). Other Configurations The dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-described configurations, and a necessary configuration can be appropriately selected and added. As such a configuration, a transparent resin film or metal that is disposed on the first electrode base and the second electrode base of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module and packages the dye-sensitized solar cell element module A laminate form can be mentioned.

IV. Method for Producing Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Element Module As a method for producing the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention, any method that can produce the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be used. Although not limited, the manufacturing method demonstrated below can be used suitably, for example.

  In the method for producing the dye-sensitized solar cell element module preferably used in the present invention, the first electrode base on which the first electrode base material is formed by forming a plurality of first electrode layers on the first base material. A material forming step, a second electrode substrate substrate preparing step for preparing a single second electrode substrate substrate capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode substrates, and the first electrode layer or the first electrode layer. A porous layer forming step of forming a porous layer on the surface of either one of the two electrode layers, a step of forming a solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate, or the first Cutting the solid electrolyte layer forming step of performing any one of the steps of continuously forming the solid electrolyte layer on the second electrode layer side of the two-electrode substrate, and cutting the second electrode substrate. Cutting step of forming the plurality of second electrode base materials, and the first The first electrode base and the second electrode base are made to face each other by facing the first electrode layer side of the polar base material and the second electrode layer side of the second electrode base material, and making the solid electrolyte layer adhere as an interface. A bonding step of bonding an electrode substrate, the first electrode layer of one of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements, and the other dye-sensitized type adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element And a connecting step of electrically connecting the second electrode layer of the solar cell element.

  Here, the manufacturing method of the above-mentioned dye-sensitized solar cell module will be described with reference to the drawings. 11 (a) to 11 (d) and FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (e) are process diagrams showing an example of a method for producing the above-described dye-sensitized solar cell module, and FIGS. It is a figure shown about the example which manufactures the dye-sensitized solar cell element module shown to b).

First, the said 1st electrode base material formation process is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in the first electrode base material forming step, the first electrode layer 12 is continuously formed on the first base material 11. In the first electrode base material forming step, the catalyst layer 5 may be formed. In this case, the catalyst layer 5 is continuously formed and laminated on the first electrode layer 12. In addition, in Fig.11 (a), an example of the 1st base material in which the 1st electrode layer and the catalyst layer 5 were formed continuously is shown from the upper surface, and FIG.11 (b) shows FIG.11 (a). The cross section along the line EE is shown.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 (c) and 11 (d), the first electrode layer 12 and the catalyst layer 5 are patterned into a predetermined pattern by an etching process or the like, thereby forming a single first base material 11. Then, the first electrode substrate 10 having a plurality of first electrode layers 12 and catalyst layers 5 formed in a pattern is formed. In FIG. 11 (c), the first electrode layer 12 and the catalyst layer 5 are formed in a stripe shape, and each of the first electrode layers 12 and the catalyst layer 5 includes an end portion of the short side of the stripe. An example formed so as to have
In addition, in FIG.11 (c), an example of the 1st electrode base material formed by the said 1st electrode base material formation process is shown from the upper surface, FIG.11 (d) shows E 'of FIG.11 (c). -E 'line cross section is shown.

  Although not shown, in the first electrode substrate forming step, the first electrode layer may be directly formed in a pattern on the first substrate by vapor deposition using a metal mask or the like.

Next, the second electrode substrate substrate preparation step and the porous layer forming step will be described. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in the second electrode substrate substrate preparation step, a second electrode substrate substrate 20 ′ having the second electrode layer 22 is prepared. Next, in the porous layer forming step, the porous layer 3 is continuously formed on the second electrode layer 22. In the connection step described later, when the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer of the adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected inside the dye-sensitized solar cell element module, In the second electrode base material 20 cut out from the electrode base material substrate 20 ′, the porous layer 3 is continuously applied to a portion other than the portion b ′ that becomes the connection portion b (see FIG. 12E) of the second electrode layer 22. It is preferable to form.
FIG. 12A shows an example of the second electrode substrate 20 ′ on which the porous layer 3 is formed by the porous layer forming step from the top, and FIG. 12 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF.

  Although not shown, in the porous layer forming step, a porous layer may be formed on the first electrode layer.

Next, the solid electrolyte layer forming step will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, in the solid electrolyte layer forming step, the solid electrolyte layer containing a redox pair is formed on the porous layer 3 of the second electrode substrate 20 ′ described above. 4 is formed continuously.
In FIG. 12C, an example of the second electrode substrate 20 ′ having the solid electrolyte layer 4 formed thereon is shown from the top, and in FIG. 12D, F ′ in FIG. -F 'line cross section is shown.

Next, the cutting process will be described.
As shown in FIG. 12E, in the cutting step, the second electrode substrate 20 is formed by cutting the second electrode substrate 20 'into a desired shape. In FIG. 12 (e), when the dye-sensitized solar cell element module is formed, the solid electrolyte formed on the second electrode substrate 20 has a shape in which the adjacent second electrode substrates 20 do not contact each other. An example in which the second electrode substrate 20 is formed so that the width of the layer 4 is larger than the width of the first electrode layer 12 shown in FIG.

Next, the said bonding process and connection process are demonstrated.
In the said bonding process, the catalyst layer 5 formed on the some 1st electrode layer 12 of the 1st electrode base material 10 shown by FIG.11 (c), and the some 1st shown by FIG.12 (e). The porous layer formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the two-electrode substrate 20 is opposed to the solid electrolyte layer 4 as an interface. Thereby, in this process, the structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 shown by FIG. 1 (a), (b) can be obtained.
In the connecting step, for example, the catalyst layer 5 formed on the plurality of first electrode layers 12 of the first electrode base material 10 shown in FIG. 11C and the plurality of the layers shown in FIG. The short side of each stripe of the first electrode layer 12 when facing the porous layer formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the second electrode substrate 20 and bonding the solid electrolyte layer 4 as an interface As shown in FIG. 1 (a), one dye sensitization is made by directly contacting the connection part a including the end part of the second electrode layer 22 and the connection part b including the end part of the short side of the second electrode layer 22. The first electrode layer 12 of the solar cell element 1 is electrically connected to the second electrode layer 22 of the other dye-sensitized solar cell element 1 adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element 1. be able to.

  In addition, when connecting the 1st electrode layer and 2nd electrode layer of an adjacent dye-sensitized solar cell element inside a dye-sensitized solar cell element module, the bonding process and connection process which were mentioned above are performed simultaneously. be able to.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are process diagrams showing another example of a method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell module suitably used in the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B. The example which manufactures the dye-sensitized solar cell element module shown by FIG. The first electrode base material forming step can be the same as that shown in FIGS. 11A to 11D, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  The solid electrolyte layer forming step will be described. In the solid electrolyte layer forming step, the solid electrolyte layer 4 corresponds to the pattern of the first electrode layer 12 on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate 10 as shown in FIGS. The pattern is formed. Although not shown, the solid electrolyte layer may be continuously formed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base so as to cover the first electrode layer. FIG. 13A shows an example of the first electrode base material on which the solid electrolyte layer 4 is formed from above, and FIG. 13B shows a cross section taken along the line GG of FIG. Show.

  Next, the second electrode substrate preparation step and the porous layer forming step will be described. In the second electrode substrate substrate preparation step, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a second electrode substrate substrate 20 ′ having a second electrode layer 22 is prepared, and then the porous In the porous layer forming step, the porous layer 3 is formed on the second electrode substrate 20 ′. 14 (a) and 14 (b) can be the same as FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), and a description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the cutting process will be described. In the cutting step, as shown in FIG. 14C, the second electrode substrate 20 is formed by cutting the second electrode substrate.

Next, the bonding process and the connection process in the present invention will be described.
In the bonding step, the catalyst layer 5 formed on the plurality of first electrode layers 12 of the first electrode substrate 10 shown in FIG. 13B and the plurality of second layers shown in FIG. The porous layer 3 formed on the second electrode layer 22 of the electrode substrate 20 is opposed to the solid electrolyte layer 4 as an interface. Thereby, in this process, the structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 shown by FIG. 2 (a), (b) can be obtained.
Moreover, since it can be set as the process mentioned above in the connection process, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  Hereinafter, each step will be described.

First electrode base material forming step The first electrode base material forming step is a step of forming the first electrode base material by forming a plurality of first electrode layers on the first base material.

  The form of the first substrate used in this step is not particularly limited as long as a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module can be obtained. It is more preferable that it is a long base material having flexibility. When the first base material is in the above-described form, a porous layer or a solid electrolyte layer is formed on the first electrode base material side in this step, a porous layer forming step or a solid electrolyte layer forming step described later. This is because the process can be performed by a roll-to-roll (R to R) process, so that the production can be performed with high production efficiency.

  About the 1st base material used for this process, the material of the 1st electrode layer, the formation method of the 1st electrode layer, and the 1st electrode base material formed, "III. Dye-sensitized solar cell element module mentioned above" Since it can be the same as that described in the section of “No.”, description thereof is omitted here.

2. Second electrode base material substrate preparation step The second electrode base material substrate preparation step is a step of preparing one second electrode base material substrate capable of cutting out a plurality of second electrode base materials. .

  The form of the substrate for the second electrode base material prepared in this step is not particularly limited as long as it can obtain a desired dye-sensitized solar cell element module. It is more preferable that it is a long base material having flexibility that is wound into a shape. The step of forming the porous layer or the solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode substrate side in the porous layer forming step or the solid electrolyte layer forming step described later, since the second electrode substrate substrate is in the above-described form. This is because manufacturing can be performed with high manufacturing efficiency.

  Specifically, the substrate for the second electrode base material prepared in this step can cut out the second electrode base material described in the above-mentioned section “III. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module”. As long as the substrate is not particularly limited, the material, thickness, etc. used for the substrate for the second electrode substrate can be the same as those described in the section of the second electrode substrate. The description in is omitted.

3. Porous layer forming step The porous layer forming step is a step of forming a porous layer on the surface of either the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer.

  Regarding the material of the porous layer used in this step, the method for forming the porous layer, and the porous layer formed in this step, the porous material described in “III. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module” described above is used. Since it can be the same as that described in the section of the layer, description here is omitted.

  In this step, it is preferable to form the porous layer using an R to R process. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention with high manufacturing efficiency.

4). Solid electrolyte layer forming step The solid electrolyte layer forming step is a step of forming the solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate, or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate. It is a step of performing any one of the steps of continuously forming the solid electrolyte layer on the side.

  As a material of the solid electrolyte layer used in this step, a desired solid electrolyte layer can be formed, and in the bonding step described later, the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate are interposed via the solid electrolyte layer. Although it will not specifically limit if it can stick together and it can adhere, It is preferable that it contains a redox pair and a high molecular compound.

  Regarding the material of the solid electrolyte layer used in this step, the method of forming the solid electrolyte layer, and the solid electrolyte layer formed in this step, the solid electrolyte of “III. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module” described above is used. Since it can be the same as that described in the section of the layer, description here is omitted.

  In this step, it is preferable to form the porous layer using an R to R process. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of the present invention with high manufacturing efficiency.

5. Cutting Step The cutting step is a step of forming the plurality of second electrode base materials by cutting the second electrode base material substrate.

  As a shape of the 2nd electrode base material formed by this process, in the dye-sensitized solar cell element module of this invention, it is a shape where adjacent 2nd electrode base materials do not contact, and 2nd electrode layer is The shape is not particularly limited as long as it can have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material, and is appropriately selected and determined depending on the use of the dye-sensitized solar cell module. be able to.

  Moreover, when the porous layer and solid electrolyte layer mentioned above are formed on the 2nd electrode base-material board | substrate, the porous layer and solid electrolyte layer which the 2nd electrode base material formed by this process normally has The second electrode base material substrate is cut so as to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first electrode layer described above.

  The method for cutting the second electrode base material substrate used in this step is not particularly limited as long as it is a method capable of cutting out the second electrode base material having a desired shape from the second electrode base material substrate. First, a known method can be used.

6). Bonding step In the bonding step, the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate and the second electrode layer side of the second electrode substrate are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface. This is a step of bonding the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate.

  Moreover, in this process, a 1st electrode base material and a 2nd electrode base material are bonded so that it may have the edge area | region mentioned above outside the edge part of a 1st electrode layer.

In this step, when a porous layer is formed on the plurality of first electrode layers of the first electrode base material described above, the porous layer and the second electrode layer are opposed to each other to form a solid The electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface. On the other hand, when the porous layer is formed on the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate described above, the first electrode layer and the porous layer are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is used as an interface. Let
Further, when the catalyst layer is formed on the electrode layer on the side where the porous layer is not formed, the porous layer and the catalyst layer are opposed to each other, and the solid electrolyte layer is adhered as an interface.

  The bonding method used in this step is not particularly limited as long as it is a bonding method capable of satisfactorily bringing the first electrode layer and the porous layer into close contact with the solid electrolyte layer as an interface. It is preferable to use a roll laminating method or a vacuum laminating method. It is because it is easy to bond so that air may not enter into the contact surface.

7). Connection Step The connection step in the present invention includes the first electrode layer of one of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements and the other dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element. This is a step of electrically connecting the second electrode layer.

  About the connection method of the 1st electrode layer and the 2nd electrode layer in this process, since it can be made to be the same as that of the method explained in the above-mentioned item of "III. Configuration of dye-sensitized solar cell module", here The description in is omitted.

8). Other Steps The manufacturing method of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module is not particularly limited as long as it is a manufacturing method having the above-described steps, and necessary steps can be appropriately selected and added.
As such a process, for example, after preparing a dye-sensitized solar cell element module, a transparent resin film or a metal laminate is formed on the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module. A process of arranging and packaging a film can be exemplified.

  Further, for example, a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules are produced by performing the above-described steps, and a larger dye-sensitized solar cell is obtained by combining the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell element modules. The process of forming a battery element module can be mentioned.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-described embodiment is an exemplification, and the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention has substantially the same configuration and exhibits the same function and effect regardless of the case. It falls within the technical scope of the invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples and comparative examples.

[Example 1]
<Preparation of first electrode substrate>
A transparent conductive film in which an ITO film was formed as a first electrode layer on a PEN film was prepared as a first substrate, and platinum was laminated as a catalyst layer on the ITO film with a thickness of 13 mm (transmittance 72%). . A part of the laminate of the first electrode layer and the catalyst layer on the PEN film on which the laminate is formed is removed by laser scribing to form an insulating portion, and the laminate is shown in FIG. As shown in (b), patterning was performed so as to have a connection portion a that is in the form of a stripe and includes an end portion on the short side of the stripe. The interval between the insulating portions was 100 mm in the long direction (portion indicated by h in FIG. 15A) and 12 mm in the short length direction (portion indicated by i in FIG. 15A). FIG. 15A is a view for explaining the shape of one first electrode layer formed in the first embodiment.
Thereby, the 1st electrode base material (counter electrode base material) which has the some 1st electrode layer formed in pattern shape on the 1st base material was obtained.

<Preparation of ink for forming porous layer>
5 g of porous titanium oxide fine particles (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name: P25) were added to 16.7 g of ethanol, and 0.25 g of acetylacetone and 20 g of zirconia beads (φ1.0 mm) were added to a paint shaker. And 0.25 g of polyvinylpyrrolidone (manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., trade name: K-30) was added as a binder to prepare an ink for forming a porous layer.

<Formation of porous layer>
The produced porous layer forming ink is applied on a titanium foil which is a substrate for the second electrode base material in a 10 cm wide area by a doctor blade method, and then dried at 120 ° C. A porous layer forming layer containing fine particles and having a thickness of 9 μm was formed. As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the porous layer forming layer is not coated with the porous forming ink, and only the titanium foil is present (the first coated portion) A connecting portion b) of the two-electrode substrate 20 ′ was provided.
A pressure of 0.1 t / cm ² was applied to the porous layer forming layer with a press. After pressing, it was baked at 500 ° C. for 30 minutes.

<Dye adsorption>
Next, an organic dye (trade name: D358, manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) is used as a dye sensitizer, and the volume ratio of acetonitrile and tert-butyl alcohol is 1: 3 so that the concentration is 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / l. A dye sensitizer carrying coating solution was prepared by dissolving in 1 solution. The porous layer forming layer formed on the titanium foil was immersed in this dye sensitizer carrying coating solution for 3 hours. Thereafter, the pigment-carrying coating solution was pulled up from the pigment-carrying coating solution, washed with acetonitrile, and then air-dried. Thereby, the sensitizing dye was supported on the pore surfaces of the titanium oxide fine particles to form a porous layer.

<Preparation of electrolyte layer forming coating solution>
0.043 g of potassium iodide was added to a solution prepared by dissolving 0.14 g of cationic hydroxycellulose (manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., trade name: Gelner QH200) in 2.72 g of ethanol, and the mixture was dissolved by stirring. Next, 0.18 g of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMIm-B (CN) 4), 0.5 g of 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PMIm-I), And 0.025 g of I ₂ was added and dissolved by stirring. This prepared the coating liquid for electrolyte layer formation which can be coated.

<Formation of solid electrolyte layer>
On the porous layer (10 cm width), an electrolyte layer forming coating solution was applied by a doctor blade method and dried at 100 ° C. to form an electrolyte layer.

<Cutting of electrode with electrolyte layer>
As shown in FIG. 12 (e), the substrate with the electrolyte layer was strip-shaped, and the short side of the strip of the second electrode layer 22 was cut so as to have a connection portion b including an end portion. The width of the strip (the width indicated by j in FIG. 15B) was 10 mm.
This obtained the 2nd electrode base material (conductive base material).
In addition, FIG.15 (b) is a figure explaining the shape of one 2nd electrode base material formed in Example 1. FIG.

<Preparation of dye-sensitized solar cell module>
As shown in FIG.15 (c), after forming a conductive adhesive in the connection part b among the 2nd electrode base materials 20 cut out on the strip, the connection of the 1st electrode layer to which a conductive adhesive adjoins is shown. The first electrode base material and the second electrode base material 20 were bonded so as to be connected to the part a, and the dye-sensitized solar cell element module 100 was produced.
In addition, FIG.15 (c) is schematic which shows the example of the dye-sensitized solar cell element module produced in Example 1. FIG.

<Sealing>
The prepared module was sandwiched between fillers and laminated at 150 ° C. to be sealed.

[Example 2]
Except that the solid electrolyte layer was formed by continuously applying the coating liquid for forming the electrolyte layer to the first electrode layer side of the first electrode substrate using the doctor blade method, the same as in Example 1. A dye-sensitized solar cell module was produced.

[Example 3]
A mask is disposed in a portion of the first electrode base material where the first electrode layer is not formed, and an electrolyte layer forming coating solution is applied to the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material using a doctor blade method. Thus, a dye-sensitized solar cell module was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the solid electrolyte layer was formed to have the same width as that of the first electrode layer formed in a pattern. .

[Example 4]
A mask is arranged so that a portion of the first electrode substrate where the first electrode layer is not formed is exposed 0.5 mm from the end of the first electrode layer, and the electrolyte layer forming coating solution is used as the first electrode substrate. Other than having formed the solid electrolyte layer so that it is 0.5 mm wider from the end than the width of the first electrode layer formed in a pattern by applying to the first electrode layer side using a doctor blade method Prepared a dye-sensitized solar cell module in the same manner as in Example 1.

[Comparative example]
A mask is disposed on a portion of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material and a portion where the first electrode layer is not formed, and the coating liquid for forming an electrolyte layer is placed on the first electrode layer side of the first electrode base material. Except that the solid electrolyte layer was formed so that the width of the solid electrolyte layer was smaller than the width of the first electrode layer formed in a pattern by applying using the doctor blade method, the same as in Example 1. Thus, a dye-sensitized solar cell element module was produced. The dye-sensitized solar cell module of the comparative example has a solid electrolyte layer formed so that the size of the solid electrolyte layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element is smaller than the size of the porous layer It is.

[Evaluation]
About the produced dye-sensitized solar cell module, artificial sunlight (AM1.5, incident light intensity of 100 mW / cm ² ) is used as a light source, is incident from the counter electrode side, and a voltage is measured using a source measure unit (Keutley 2400 type). The current-voltage characteristics by application were measured. As a result, in Example 1, when the short-circuit current 23 (mA), the open circuit voltage 6.1 (V), the fill factor 0.24, and the maximum output 34 mW are shown, and the fluorescent lamp (500 lux) is used as the light source, A short-circuit current of 0.25 (mA), an open-circuit voltage of 4.7 (V), a fill factor of 0.70, and a maximum output of 0.8 mW were obtained.

  In Example 2, the characteristics of a short circuit current 23 (mA), an open circuit voltage 6.0 (V), a fill factor 0.25, and a maximum output 34 mW are shown. When a fluorescent lamp (500 lux) is used as a light source, the short circuit current 0 The characteristics of .25 (mA), open circuit voltage 4.7 (V), fill factor 0.70, and maximum output 0.8 mW were obtained.

  In Example 3, the characteristics of a short circuit current of 20 (mA), an open circuit voltage of 6.1 (V), a fill factor of 0.20, and a maximum output of 24 mW are shown. When a fluorescent lamp (500 lux) is used as a light source, the short circuit current is 0. .21 (mA), an open circuit voltage of 4.8 (V), a fill factor of 0.70, and a maximum output of 0.7 mW were obtained.

  In Example 4, the characteristics of a short-circuit current of 20 (mA), an open-circuit voltage of 6.1 (V), a fill factor of 0.20, and a maximum output of 24 mW are shown. When a fluorescent lamp (500 lux) is used as a light source, the short-circuit current is 0. .21 (mA), an open circuit voltage of 4.8 (V), a fill factor of 0.70, and a maximum output of 0.7 mW were obtained.

  Moreover, when the dye-sensitized solar cell element modules of Examples 1 to 4 were bent, no internal short circuit occurred in each of the dye-sensitized solar cell elements.

  In Comparative Example 1, since the internal short circuit of the dye-sensitized solar cell element occurred by bending the module, it was difficult to measure the current-voltage characteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dye-sensitized solar cell element 3 ... Porous layer 4 ... Solid electrolyte layer 5 ... Catalyst layer 10 ... 1st electrode base material 11 ... 1st base material 12 ... 1st electrode layer 20 ... 2nd electrode base material 20 '... Second electrode substrate 100 ... Dye-sensitized solar cell module

Claims (1)

A first electrode substrate having a first substrate and a plurality of first electrode layers formed in a pattern on the first substrate;
A plurality of second electrode substrates having at least a second electrode layer;
Metal oxide formed on any one of the first electrode layer of the first electrode base material or the second electrode layer of the second electrode base material and carrying a dye sensitizer. A plurality of porous layers containing organic semiconductor fine particles, and
Of the first electrode layer of the first electrode substrate or the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate, formed between the electrode layer on which the porous layer is not formed and the porous layer A plurality of solid electrolyte layers containing redox couples,
A plurality of dye-sensitized solar cell elements each having the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the porous layer, and the solid electrolyte layer are connected,
The first electrode layer of one dye-sensitized solar cell element and the second electrode layer of another dye-sensitized solar cell element adjacent to the one dye-sensitized solar cell element are electrically connected A connected dye-sensitized solar cell module,
The solid electrolyte layer is formed on the entire surface of the porous layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element, and the position of the end of the solid electrolyte layer and the position of the end of the porous layer are matched. In addition, the solid electrolyte layer is formed,
The porous layer is formed so that the width of the porous layer of the dye-sensitized solar cell element and the width of the second electrode layer of the second electrode substrate are the same ,
The pattern shape of the first electrode layer has a stripe-shaped portion,
The second electrode base material has a strip-shaped portion,
The solid electrolyte layer is a dye-sensitized solar cell module module , wherein an end in the width direction is exposed at a portion where the shape of the second electrode substrate is a strip shape .

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