# US 10,121,602 B2 · Metal substrate for dye-sensitized solar cell

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- Number: US 10,121,602 B2
- Document ID: US10121602B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/530,412
- Filed: 2012-06-22
- Published: 2013-12-26
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-22
- Assignees: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
- Applicants: Ryouji Inoue; Shinji Yamamoto; Keita Watanabe; Masaaki Ishio
- Inventors: Ryouji Inoue; Shinji Yamamoto; Keita Watanabe; Masaaki Ishio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121602B2

## CPC

- H01G 9/2068: {Panels or arrays of photoelectrochemical cells, e.g. photovoltaic modules based on photoelectrochemical cells}
- H01G 9/20: Light-sensitive devices
- H01G 9/2022: {characterized by he counter electrode}
- H01G 9/2077: {Sealing arrangements, e.g. to prevent the leakage of the electrolyte}
- H01G 9/2031: {comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 (H01G9/2036 takes precedence)}
- H01G 9/2059: {comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution}
- Y02E 10/542: Dye sensitized solar cells
- H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

This metal substrate for a dye-sensitized solar cell includes a clad material including a nonporous first metal layer, arranged on an anode side of a dye-sensitized solar cell element, made of a metal having corrosion resistance against an electrolyte of the dye-sensitized solar cell element and a second metal layer made of a metal having lower electrical resistance than the first metal layer and bonded to a side of the first metal layer opposite to the dye-sensitized solar cell element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell, comprising a three-layer clad material consisting of:
a nonporous first metal layer, arranged on an anode side of a dye-sensitized solar cell element, made of a metal having corrosion resistance against an electrolyte of said dye-sensitized solar cell element, a thickness of said nonporous first metal layer is at least 20 μm,
a second metal layer made of a metal having lower electrical resistance than said nonporous first metal layer and bonded to a side of said nonporous first metal layer opposite to said dye-sensitized solar cell element, and
a third metal layer bonded to a side opposite to said nonporous first metal layer being in direct contact with said second metal layer, wherein
said nonporous first metal layer is made of Ti,
said second metal layer is made of Cu,
said third metal layer is made of ferritic stainless steel containing at least about 16% and not more than about 18% of Cr,
wherein the metal substrate further comprises a catalyst layer formed on a substrate surface of said nonporous first metal layer closer to said dye-sensitized solar cell element,
the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer and a thickness of said third metal layer are substantially identical to each other, and
a ratio of a surface area to a plane area on said substrate surface of said nonporous first metal layer closer to said dye-sensitized solar cell element is at least 1.05.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein said nonporous first metal layer and said second metal layer constitute an anode of said dye-sensitized solar cell element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein
a thickness of said second metal layer is at least 20% of a total thickness at least including the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer and the thickness of said second metal layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of said second metal layer is at least 50% of said total thickness at least including the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer and the thickness of said second metal layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein
the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer is at least 15% of a total thickness at least including the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer, and a thickness of said second metal layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein said third metal layer is made of a metal having higher corrosion resistance than said metal constituting said second metal layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein
a thickness of said second metal layer is at least 20% and not more than 70% of a total thickness at least including the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer, the thickness of said second metal layer and a thickness of said third metal layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of said second metal layer is at least 30% and not more than 60% of said total thickness at least including the thickness of said nonporous first metal layer, the thickness of said second metal layer and the thickness of said third metal layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrical resistance of said second metal layer is not more than 1/20 of the electrical resistance of said nonporous first metal layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein arithmetic mean roughness Ra is at least 0.10 μm and ten point height of irregularities Rzjis is at least 0.50 μm on said substrate surface of said nonporous first metal layer closer to said dye-sensitized solar cell element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 10, wherein said arithmetic mean roughness Ra is at least 0.22 μm and said ten point height of irregularities Rzjis is at least 1.20 μm on said substrate surface of said nonporous first metal layer closer to said dye-sensitized solar cell element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The metal substrate made of only metal for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of said third metal layer and the thermal expansion coefficient of said nonporous first metal layer is smaller than the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of said second metal layer and the thermal expansion coefficient of said nonporous first metal layer.