Paste for dye-sensitized solar cell, transparent insulation film for dye-sensitized solar cell, dye-sensitized solar cell, and dye-sensitized solar cell fabrication method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9076598-B2
Application number	US-93630909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2009
Priority date	Apr 8, 2008
Publication date	Jul 7, 2015
Grant date	Jul 7, 2015

Abstract

A paste containing a silica polymer, made by substituting at least some of the surface functional groups thereof with alkyl groups, and solvent-removable inorganic particles is prepared, and the paste is applied and fired to form a transparent insulating film in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paste for a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:
a silica polymer, having alkyl groups that are substituted for at least some surface functional groups thereof, and
solvent-removable inorganic particles,
wherein the ratio of the alkyl groups in the surface functional groups of the silica polymer is in a range of 40% to 90%.

2. The paste for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group is at least one selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and an isopropyl group.

3. The paste for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 2 , wherein a content ratio of the silica polymer in the paste is in a range of 0.1% by weight to 100% by weight in terms of a weight of SiO 2 relative to the inorganic particles.

4. The paste for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1 , wherein a content ratio of the silica polymer in the paste is in a range of 0.1% by weight to 100% by weight in terms of a weight of SiO 2 relative to the inorganic particles.

5. A transparent insulation film for a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising a silica polymer having alkyl groups that are substituted for at least some surface functional groups thereof,
wherein the silica polymer exhibits porosity due to a three-dimensional binding of the silica polymer, and
wherein the ratio of the alkyl groups in the surface functional groups of the silica polymer is in a range of 40% to 90%.

6. A dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:
a transparent substrate,
a transparent conductive layer formed on the transparent substrate,
a catalyst layer formed on the transparent conductive layer,
a transparent insulation film formed on the catalyst layer, the transparent insulation film being formed of a silica polymer having alkyl groups that are substituted for at least some surface functional groups thereof and exhibiting porosity due to three-dimensional binding of the silica polymer, wherein the ratio of the alkyl groups in the surface functional groups of the silica polymer is in a range of 40% to 90%,
a dye-adsorbed porous semiconductor layer formed on the transparent insulation film, and
a conductive layer formed on the porous semiconductor layer.

7. A method of fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising:
forming a transparent conductive layer on a transparent substrate,
forming a catalyst layer on the transparent conductive layer,
applying a paste containing a silica polymer having alkyl groups that are substituted for at least some surface functional groups thereof and solvent-removable inorganic particles onto the catalyst layer, followed by firing to form an insulation film, wherein the ratio of the alkyl groups in the surface functional groups of the silica polymer is in a range of 40% to 90%,
dipping the insulation film in a solvent to dissolve and remove the inorganic particles, thereby forming a transparent insulation film exhibiting porosity due to three-dimensional binding of the silica polymer,
forming a dye-adsorbed porous semiconductor layer on the transparent insulation film, and
forming a conductive layer on the porous semiconductor layer.

8. The method of fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 7 , wherein the solvent is an inorganic acid.

Assignees

• Han Liyuan
• Yamanaka Ryohsuke
• Fuke Nobuhiro
• Fukui Atsushi
• Takano Shingo
• Fujihashi Gaku
• Sharp Kk
• Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co Ltd

Inventors

• Han Liyuan
• Yamanaka Ryohsuke
• Fuke Nobuhiro
• Fukui Atsushi
• Takano Shingo
• Fujihashi Gaku

Classifications

• H01G9/2059

  comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution · CPC title

• Y02E10/542

  Dye sensitized solar cells · CPC title

• H01G9/2031 Primary

  comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 (H01G9/2036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01L51/4226

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01B1/122

  Ionic conductors · CPC title