Photoelectric conversion element

A photoelectric conversion element comprising:

• a first electrode layer including a first base member and a rough layer formed on the first base member;
• a photoelectric conversion layer formed on the rough layer;
• and
• a second electrode layer formed above the photoelectric conversion layer,
• wherein the rough layer is formed of a plurality of metal fine particles irregularly connected together and to a surface of the first base member,
• the rough layer has a surface roughness which is rougher than that of the second electrode layer,
• the rough layer includes a plurality of connected bodies each formed of a part of the plurality of metal fine particles and pores formed between the plurality of connected bodies,
• the photoelectric conversion layer infiltrates in the pores,
• a bottom portion of each of the plurality of connected bodies is connected to the first base member and a tip portion of each of the plurality of connected bodies is apart from the first base member, the bottom portion being located closer to the first base member than the tip portion,
• a diameter of a metal fine particle disposed at the bottom portion of each of the plurality of connected bodies is larger than a diameter of a metal fine particle disposed at the tip portion of each of the plurality of connected bodies,
• a mode of diameters of the pores in the rough layer is 5 nm or more and 1 μm or less before the photoelectric conversion layer infiltrates the pores, and
• the porosity of the rough layer ranges from about 50% to 80%.