In an embodiment, a photoelectric conversion element includes an electrode 1, a counter-electrode 2, and an electrolyte layer 3 interposed between the electrode 1 and the counter electrode 2, wherein: a semiconductor oxide layer 10, as well as semiconductor oxide grains 21 and sensitizing dye 22 fixed via the semiconductor oxide layer 10, are provided on at least a part of a face of the electrode 1 facing the counter-electrode 2; the semiconductor oxide layer 10 has a film structure constituted by grains which are more densely packed than are the fixed semiconductor oxide grains 21; the electrolyte layer 3 contains I.sub.3.sup. and I.sup.; and the concentration of I.sup. in the electrolyte layer 3 is 1 to 10 mol/L and is 2 million to 200 million times that of I.sub.3.sup.. The photoelectric conversion element is capable of generating a large amount of electricity and high electrical current.

Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell with a large area that can exhibit high electrical power. The dye-sensitized solar cell is a dye-sensitized solar cell in which a photoelectrode and a counter electrode are disposed opposite to each other via an electrolyte layer; (1) the photoelectrode comprising a titanium material and a titanium oxide layer containing a dye sensitizing agent formed on the titanium material; and (2) the counter electrode comprising a transparent conductive glass or transparent conductive film coated with an electrochemical-reduction catalyst layer, the counter electrode being provided with a collector electrode.

A method for producing a solar cell, including: an electrolyte-supplying step of supplying an electrolyte onto a plate-shaped first electrode at a region thereof positioned between a pair of first sealing portions respectively provided along two opposing lateral sides of the plate-shaped first electrode; an electrodes-laminating step of superposing a second electrode on the first electrode gradually from one end side toward the other end side as viewed in a direction along the lateral sides of the first electrode while bonding the second electrode to the first electrode at the first sealing portions, the second electrode including a flexible plate-shaped substrate having a hole penetrating through the substrate in a thicknesswise direction thereof and capable of discharging the electrolyte therethrough; and a sealing step of bonding the first electrode and the second electrode at a pair of second sealing portions.

A layered perovskite structure comprising a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a layer of a perovskite film on the upper surface. A passivating layer may be applied to the upper surface of the substrate to which the perovskite film is attached. The passivating layer comprises at least one a chalcogenide-containing species with the general chemical formula (E.sub.3E.sub.4)N(E.sub.1E.sub.2)NC?X where any one of E.sub.1, E.sub.2, E.sub.3 and E.sub.4 is independently selected from C1-C15 organic substituents comprising from 0 to 15 heteroatoms or hydrogen, and X is S, Se or Te, thiourea, thioacetamide, selenoacetamide, selenourea, H.sub.2S, H.sub.2Se, H.sub.2Te, or LXH wherein L is a C.sub.n organic substituent comprising heteroatoms and X?S, Se, or Te. The substrate comprises PEDOT:PSS, and may further comprise a layered glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS structure. A passivating layer is applied to the PEDOT:PSS layer, and a top electrode may be applied over the perovskite film.

A corrosion-free electrolyte for use in plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells includes ions of a plasmon-supporting metal, in particular iodide anions of the plasmon-supporting metal especially, but not exclusively, gold(I) diiodide anions ([AuI.sub.2].sup.) and/or gold(III) tetraiodide anions ([AuI.sub.4].sup.). Methods for preparing the electrolyte are also disclosed, as are methods for reducing the corrosion of plasmonic structures in plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells and for improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells, in particular plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells, by disposing the electrolyte between the electrodes. The corrosion-free electrolyte of the present invention provides a corrosion-free environment for the plasmonic structures in the plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells, and further advantageously increases the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells, in particular plasmonic-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells, in the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage and the power conversion efficiency.

The present invention relates to the doping of organic semiconductors and processes for producing layers of p-doped organic semiconductors. Disclosed is a process for p-doping organic semiconductors comprising treating the organic semiconductor with an oxidized salt of the organic semiconductor. A process for producing a layer of a p-doped organic semiconductor comprising producing a p-doped organic semiconductor by treating the organic semiconductor with an oxidized salt of the organic semiconductor; disposing a composition comprising a solvent and the p-doped organic semiconductor on a substrate; and removing the solvent is also described. Also disclosed is a process for producing a layer of a p-doped organic semiconductor comprising: disposing a composition comprising a solvent, the organic semiconductor and a protic ionic liquid on a substrate; and removing the solvent. A process for producing a semiconductor device comprising a process for doping an organic semiconductor according to the invention is also described. Finally, a high purity p-dopant composition is described.

An electrochemical reaction device of an embodiment includes: an electrolytic solution tank; a first electrode in the first room; a second electrode in the second room; and a generator. The electrolytic solution tank includes a first room and a second room. The first room is capable of storing a first electrolytic solution containing a first substance including carbon dioxide. The second room is capable of storing a second electrolytic solution containing a second substance. The first electrode reduces the first substance. The second electrode oxidizes the second substance. The generator is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes a conductor having a flow path penetrating through the conductor.

A photoelectric conversion device of an embodiment includes, in sequence: a substrate; a first electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer containing a perovskite compound and a solvent; and a second electrode. The perovskite compound has a composition represented by a composition formula of ABX.sub.3. The A represents at least one selected from a monovalent cation of a metal element and a monovalent cation of an amine compound. The B represents a bivalent cation of a metal element. The X represents a monovalent anion of a halogen element. The number of molecules of the solvent with respect to one crystal lattice of the perovskite compound ranges from 0.004 to 0.5.

Provided are FeS.sub.2 based photovoltaic battery devices comprising a transparent substrate, an active layer disposed over the transparent substrate, the active layer comprising a porous film of FeS.sub.2 nanocrystals and a halide ionic liquid infiltrating the porous film, and an electrode disposed over the active layer. The device may be configured such that under exposure to light, photons incident on the active layer are absorbed by the FeS.sub.2 nanocrystals, generating a current and a voltage, whereby a separation of charge within the active layer is created, which is discharged in the absence of the light.

Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell which includes a working electrode and a counter electrode facing each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween, the working electrode having a dye-supporting metal oxide electrode composed of a metal oxide layer having a dye supported thereon. The dye contains a cyanine dye, and the electrolyte of the electrolyte layer contains a cobalt-based electrolyte. It is preferred to use at least one cyanine dye represented by general formula (1) as the cyanine dye. An.sup.q? represents a q-valent anion, wherein q represents 1 or 2, and p represents a coefficient for maintaining overall charge neutrality.