Acicular Conductive Particle Layer for Photoelectric Electron Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photoelectric elements face challenges in achieving high electron transport properties and a large reaction interface due to electron trapping by conductive materials, which hampers conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electrode composite with a conductive particle layer having a three-dimensional porous network structure, containing acicular particles and pores of 50 nm or more, is used to enhance electron transport and increase the reaction interface area by forming a sintered compact joined to the first electrode, with an electron transport layer and hole transport layer interposed between the electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductive material layer is used to improve electron transport, then electrical conductivity is improved, but electron trapping occurs which reduces conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive particle layer is designed with a porous structure containing pores of 50 nm or more in volume, allowing electron transport while preventing electron trapping. The porous structure enables efficient electron movement through the layer without the harmful trapping effect that occurs in dense conductive material configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining conductive particles with semiconductor particles in a layered configuration. The conductive particle layer with pores is stacked on the semiconductor layer, creating a composite material system that achieves both high electrical conductivity and high conversion efficiency by separating the electron transport function from the photoelectric conversion function.
2Reliability
If the reaction interface area is increased to improve charge separation, then photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention increases the reaction interface area by transitioning from a planar interface to a three-dimensional porous network structure. The conductive particles form a 3D network with numerous pores, dramatically increasing the surface area available for charge separation without requiring a complex multi-layered or folded structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous structure of the conductive particle layer provides a large reaction interface area for charge separation between the semiconductor and conductive materials. The pores with diameter of 50 nm or more create extensive surface area while maintaining a relatively simple layered device architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electrode composite significantly improves electron transport properties and reaction interface area, leading to enhanced conversion efficiency in photoelectric elements.
Implementation Method 1
Applying sunlight to the semiconductor for a photoelectric conversion material causes the sensitizing dye to absorb light to be excited
Implementation Method 2
Electrons generated by the excitation move to the semiconductor, then pass through the transparent electrode and a load
Implementation Method 3
the conductive particle layer has a three-dimensional porous network structure, interconnection of the conductive particles forms the three-dimensional network structure
Implementation Method 4
the conductive particle layer contains pores having a pore size of 50 nm or more in a total volume of 50% or more based on the volume of all pores in the conductive particle layer
Implementation Method 5
The conductive particle layer is a sintered compact of conductive particles containing acicular particles and is joined to the first electrode
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an electrode composite that has a reaction interface with a large area and can constitute a photoelectric element having high electron transport properties between the reaction interface and the electrode. The electrode composite of the present invention includes a first electrode and a conductive particle layer stacked on the first electrode. The conductive particle layer includes conductive particles containing acicular particles. The conductive particle layer has a three-dimensional porous network structure that is formed by the interconnection of the conductive particles. The three-dimensional network structure is joined to the first electrode. The conductive particle layer contains pores having a pore size of 50 nm or more in a total volume of 50% or more based on the volume of all pores in the conductive particle layer.