DESCRIPTION
PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING
THE SAME
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a photoelectric
conversion element such as a solar battery and further to a
method of producing the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Generally, a photoelectric conversion element such as
a dye-sensitized type solar battery is made of an electrode
constructed by forming a transparent conductive film on a
transparent substrate such as a glass plate and dyeing the
conductive film with a photosensitizing dye, a counter
electrode constructed by forming a transparent conductive
film on a substrate for the counter electrode, and an
electrolyte solution allowed to intervene between the two
electrodes.
[0003]
In the dye-sensitized type solar battery, electrons
are excited from the photosensitizing dye on the electrode
by optical energy such as solar light. However, not all of

the photosensitizing dye receives the optical energy, so
that optical energy that passes through the electrode as it
is also exists.
[0004]
Therefore, a dye-sensitized type solar battery is
proposed in which the optical energy having passed through
the electrode is allowed to contribute to the power
generation so as to increase the amount of power generation
per unit area by laminating at least two layers of
photoelectric conversion layers made by sequentially
laminating an electrode layer, a semiconductor layer made
of metal oxide having adsorbed a photosensitizing dye, an
electrolyte layer, and an electrode layer, with a light-
transmitting insulating substrate sandwiched therebetween
(See Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication (JP-A) No. 11-273753
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0005]
However, in the above dye-sensitized type solar
battery, it is essential that the electrode (positive
electrode) on the insulating member side between the
photoelectric conversion layers is made of a conductive

layer having a transmittance property in order to transmit
the optical energy to the photoelectric conversion layer of
the later stage. These conductive layers are constructed
by forming a tin oxide layer doped with fluorine on one
surface of a transparent glass plate. However, there
arises a problem in that these conductive layers will be
corroded by being exposed to the electrolyte solution
containing a corrosive substance such as iodine.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention provides a dye-
sensitized type solar battery with increased power
generation amount per unit area without raising a problem
of corrosion as described above, as well as a method of
producing the same.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0007]
The present invention provides a photoelectric
conversion element wherein
two sheets of reference electrodes constructed by
forming a photocatalyst film dyed with a photosensitizing
dye on one surface of a transparent substrate via a
transparent conductive film are disposed to oppose each
other,
a counter electrode is disposed between these

reference electrodes, and
the counter electrode is constructed in such a manner
that, via a conductive adhesive agent layer that covers the
whole of the non-opening parts on both surfaces of a
counter electrode substrate having a plurality of openings,
a brush-shaped carbon nanotube that is oriented
substantially perpendicularly to the substrate surface is
disposed.
[0008]
In the photoelectric conversion element according to
the present invention, the reference electrode is
preferably constructed by allowing a brush-shaped carbon
nanotube disposed substantially perpendicularly to the
substrate surface on the transparent conductive film on the
transparent substrate to carry photocatalyst particles, and
dyeing the particles with a photosensitizing dye.
[0009]
The reference electrode is preferably constructed by
forming a photocatalyst film made of a mixture of carbon
nanotube particles and photocatalyst particles on the
transparent conductive film on the transparent substrate,
and dyeing the photocatalyst film with a photosensitizing
dye.
[0010]
The reference electrode may be in contact with the

brush-shaped carbon nanotube of the counter electrode.
[0011]
A method of producing a photoelectric conversion
element according to the present invention includes:
constructing a reference electrode by forming a
photocatalyst film dyed with a photosensitizing dye on one
surface of a transparent substrate via a transparent
conductive film;
disposing two sheets of the obtained electrode to
oppose each other; and
disposing a counter electrode between these reference
electrodes, the counter electrode being constructed in such
a manner that, via a conductive adhesive agent layer that
covers the whole of the non-opening parts on both surfaces
of a counter electrode substrate having a plurality of
openings, a brush-shaped carbon nanotube that is oriented
substantially perpendicularly to the substrate surface is
disposed.
[0012]
In the method of producing a photoelectric conversion
element according to the present invention, the reference
electrode is constructed by forming a transparent
conductive film on one surface of a transparent substrate,
transcribing a separately formed brush-shaped carbon
nanotube onto the conductive film in such a manner that the

brush-shaped carbon nanotube may be oriented substantially-
perpendicularly to the substrate surface, allowing the
carbon nanotube to carry photocatalyst particles, and
dyeing the particles with a photosensitizing dye.
[0013]
The reference electrode is preferably constructed by
forming a transparent conductive film on one surface of a
transparent substrate, forming a photocatalyst film made of
a mixture of carbon nanotube particles and photocatalyst
particles on the conductive film, and dyeing the catalyst
film with a photosensitizing dye.
[0014]
In forming a photocatalyst film made of a mixture of
carbon nanotube particles and photocatalyst particles on
the transparent conductive film, a paste containing the
mixture is preferably applied onto the transparent
conductive film, followed by drying. In this case, in
applying the paste onto the transparent conductive film,
the application is preferably carried out in a state in
which an electrostatic field is formed between the
transparent conductive film and an electrode opposing
thereto.
[0015]
In the present invention, the transparent substrate
of the reference electrode may be a glass plate, a plastic

plate, or the like. The transparent conductive film of the
reference electrode is preferably a thin film containing,
for example, a conductive metal oxide such as tin-added
indium oxide [Indium Tin Oxide (TIN)], fluorine-added tin
oxide [Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO)], or tin oxide
[Sn02] .
[0016]
The photosensitizing dye may be, for example, a
ruthenium complex or an iron complex having a ligand
containing a bipyridine structure, a terpyridine structure,
or the like, a metal complex of porphyrin series or
phthalocyanine series, or further an organic dye such as
eosine, rhodamine, merocyanine, or coumalin.
[0017]
The photocatalyst may be a metal oxide such as
titanium oxide (TiO2) , tin oxide (SnO2) , tungsten oxide
(WO3) , zinc oxide (ZnO) , or niobium oxide (Nb2O5) .
[0018]
The substrate for the counter electrode is made of a
metal sheet such as aluminum, copper, or tin.
[0019]
The conductive adhesive agent layer of the counter
electrode may be made of a carbon-series conductive
adhesive agent, but is not limited thereto.
[0020]

In accordance with the needs, an electrolyte solution
may be allowed to intervene between the reference electrode
serving as the negative electrode and the counter electrode
serving as the positive electrode. The electrolyte
solution may be one in which an electrolyte component such
as iodine, iodide ion, or tertiary-butylpyridine is
dissolved in an organic solvent such as ethylene carbonate
or methoxyacetonitrile.
[0021]
The formation and the transcription of the brush-
shaped carbon nanotube is carried out in accordance with
known methods.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022]
According to the present invention, since the counter
electrode disposed between the two sheets of reference
electrodes has a plurality of openings, the optical energy
that has not contributed to the power generation in the
reference electrode of the previous stage can be guided to
the reference electrode of the later stage by passing
through the plurality of openings, and can be used here for
power generation.
[0023]
Also, the whole of the non-opening parts on both

surfaces of the counter electrode substrate having a
plurality of openings are covered with a conductive
adhesive agent layer. Therefore, even if an electrolyte
solution containing a corrosive substance is allowed to
intervene between the two reference electrodes, the
electrolyte solution is not brought into contact with the
substrate, so that the counter electrode substrate is not
corroded by the electrolyte solution.
[0024]
Further, since the movement of electrons is improved
by the brush-shaped carbon nanotube of the counter
electrode and the carbon nanotube contained in the
photocatalyst, a highly efficient dye-sensitized solar
battery can be constructed even with a smaller amount of
electrolyte solution as compared with a conventional case.
[0025]
This can construct a solar battery cell having a high
electric power conversion efficiency and being provided
with a counter electrode excellent in corrosion resistance.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026]
Next, in order to describe the present invention
specifically, some Examples of the present invention will
be given.

[0027]
EXAMPLE 1
In Fig. 1, a transparent conductive film (2) was
formed on one surface of a transparent substrate (1) for an
electrode made of glass or plastics. A photocatalyst film
(8) made of titanium oxide particles (3) was formed to a
thickness of 10 to 15 urn on the conductive film (2) . The
photocatalyst film (8) was formed by applying a paste
containing titanium oxide particles having an average
particle size of 20 to 3 0 nm onto the transparent substrate
(1), followed by sintering.
[0028]
After the photocatalyst film (8) was dyed with a
ruthenium series dye referred to as "N3" or "N719", an
iodine series electrolyte solution was applied onto the
surface of the photocatalyst film (8) . In this manner, a
photocatalyst electrode (negative electrode) (10) was
constructed. Two sheets of the photocatalyst electrodes
(10) were prepared.
[0029]
In Fig. 4, a plurality of openings (9) were provided
by etching on a metal sheet (4) (for example, an aluminum
sheet) having a thickness of 30 to 50 fan. A carbon series
conductive adhesive agent was applied onto both surface of
the sheet, so as to form a conductive adhesive agent layer

(7) that covers the whole of the non-opening parts on both
surfaces of the metal sheet. Separately, a carbon nanotube
formed substantially perpendicularly to a base material by
a method such as the thermochemical vapor deposition method
or the plasma chemical vapor deposition method was
transcribed from the base material to the non-opening parts
on both surfaces of the porous metal sheet (4) via the
conductive adhesive agent layer (7) so that the carbon
nanotube would be oriented substantially perpendicularly,
thereby to form a counter electrode (positive electrode)
(11), and an iodine series electrolyte solution was applied
onto the surface (counter electrode surface) of a carbon
nanotube film (5) .
[0030]
Two sheets of the photocatalyst electrodes (negative
electrodes) (10) were disposed to oppose each other, and
the counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) having a
plurality of openings (9) was disposed between these
negative electrodes so that the photocatalyst film (8) of
the former would face the carbon nanotube film (5) of the
latter. A sealing piece (6) made of thermosetting resin or
photosetting resin was allowed to intervene between the
peripheries of the three sheets of electrodes, and these
electrodes were integrated with the sealing piece (6),
thereby to construct a dye-sensitized solar battery cell.

[0031]
On this cell construction, the electric power
conversion efficiency was measured by standard light source
radiation of AM 1.5 and 100 mW/cm2, with a result that the
conversion efficiency was 7.0%. (In a conventional dye-
sensitized solar battery cell, the electric power
conversion efficiency was about 4 to 5%.)
The generated voltage was about 0.44 V; however, as
the optical current density, 16 mA/cm2 which will be about
1.4 times as large as that of an ordinary cell was
obtained, with a result that the electric power conversion
efficiency was improved.
[0032]
In addition, the corrosiveness by the iodine series
electrolyte solution applied onto the surface of the
counter electrode was examined. As a result thereof, it
was confirmed that the counter electrode surface did not
change from the initial state, and is excellent in
durability.
[0033]
EXAMPLE 2
In Fig. 2, to a transparent substrate (1) made of
glass or plastics whose surface is covered with a
transparent conductive film (18) such as ITO, a transparent
conductive film (2) of conductive polymer such as PEDOT or

PEDOT/PSS was formed on this transparent conductive film.
Separately, a carbon nanotube formed substantially
perpendicularly to a base material by a method such as the
thermochemical vapor deposition method or the plasma
chemical vapor deposition method was transcribed from the
base material to the transparent conductive film (2) so
that the carbon nanotube would be oriented substantially
perpendicularly. The carbon nanotube film (15) had a
thickness of about 8 µm.
[0034]
Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the substrate (1) with
this carbon nanotube film (15) was immersed into a
dispersion liquid (preferably an alcohol dispersion liquid)
(17) in which titanium oxide particles (having an average
particle size of 20 nm) were dispersed. An electric field
of about -1 kV/cm was formed by a high-voltage power source
(14) between an electrode (13) disposed in the liquid (17)
to oppose to the substrate (1) and the conductive film (2)
of the substrate (1), whereby the titanium oxide particles
(3) were moved into the carbon nanotube film (15) by the
electrophoresis method so as to be carried. Here, the two
are connected so that the conductive film (2) side of the
substrate (1) will be a negative high voltage, and the
electrode (13) side will be grounded.
[0035]

After a photocatalyst film (8) made of the carbon
nanotube film (15) and the titanium oxide particles (3)
carried thereon was dyed with a ruthenium series dye
referred to as "N3" or "N719", an iodine series electrolyte
solution was applied onto the surface of the photocatalyst
film (8) . In this manner, a photocatalyst electrode (10)
was constructed.
[0036]
Instead of the electrophoresis method, after a
solution of chloride or hydroxide which will be a precursor
of a photocatalyst is applied onto the substrate (1) with
the carbon nanotube film, the carbon nanotube film surface
can be allowed to carry predetermined photocatalyst
particles by oxidizing the precursor with use of water
vapor or the like. Alternatively, the carbon nanotube
surface can be allowed to carry photocatalyst particles by
dropping, drying, and sintering a dilution liquid obtained
by diluting a paste containing a photocatalyst such as
titanium oxide particles having an average particle size of
20 to 3 0 nm with alcohol or the like.
[0037]
A counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) was
formed in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0038]
Two sheets of the photocatalyst electrodes (negative

electrodes) (10) were disposed to oppose each other, and
the counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) having the
plurality of openings (9) was disposed between these
negative electrodes so that the photocatalyst film (8) of
the former would face the carbon nanotube film (5) of the
latter. A sealing piece (6) made of thermosetting resin or
photosetting resin was allowed to intervene between the
peripheries of the three sheets of electrodes, and these
electrodes were integrated with the sealing piece (6),
thereby to construct a dye-sensitized solar battery cell.
The inside of the cell was impregnated with an iodine
series electrolyte solution.
[0039]
On this cell construction, the electric power
conversion efficiency was measured by standard light source
radiation of AM 1.5 and 10 0 mW/cm2, with a result that the
conversion efficiency was 7.8%.
[0040]
EXAMPLE 3
In Fig. 3, a transparent conductive film (2) was
formed on one surface of a transparent substrate (1) for an
electrode made of glass or plastics.
[0041]
Separately, a paste was prepared by mixing titanium
oxide photocatalyst particles (having an average particle

size of 20 nm) and particles of carbon nanotube (multi-wall
nanotube (MWNT) ) having a length of 1 µm (those obtained by-
dispersing MWNT into alcohol, finely grinding with use of a
supersonic cleaner, and taking out MWNT of 1 µm or less
with use of a filter), and adding alcohol and water to this
mixture. In this Example, MWNT was used as the carbon
nanotube; however, a single wall nanotube (SWNT) or a
double wall nanotube (DWNT) may be used as well.
[0042]
This paste was applied onto the transparent
conductive film (2) on the transparent substrate (1) with
use of a doctor blade to form a film, which was then dried
at a temperature of 150°C, so as to form a photocatalyst
film (8) containing titanium oxide particles (3) and carbon
nanotube particles (25). Thereafter, an iodine series
electrolyte solution was applied onto the surface of the
photocatalyst film (8) . In this manner, a photocatalyst
electrode was constructed.
[0043]
In this Example, the film was formed by using a paste
containing titanium oxide particles (3) and carbon nanotube
particles (25) . Alternatively, the film can be formed by
the electrophoresis method by diluting the above paste
liquid, immersing the substrate (1) with the transparent
conductive film (2) into this dilution liquid, and forming

an electric field of about -1 kV/cm on the substrate side.
In other words, in Fig. 6, to a transparent substrate (1)
made of glass or plastics whose surface is covered with a
transparent conductive film (18) such as ITO, a transparent
conductive film (2) of conductive polymer such as PEDOT or
PEDOT/PSS was formed on this transparent conductive film.
This transparent substrate (1) was immersed into a
dispersion liquid (preferably an alcohol dispersion liquid)
(17) in which titanium oxide particles (3) and carbon
nanotube particles (25) were dispersed. An electric field
of about -1 kV/cm was formed by a high-voltage power source
(14) between an electrode (13) disposed in the liquid (17)
to oppose to the substrate (1) and the conductive film (2)
of the substrate (1) , thereby to form a photocatalyst film
(8) containing the titanium oxide particles (3) and the
carbon nanotube particles (25) by the electrophoresis
method. Here, the two are connected so that the conductive
film (2) side of the substrate (1) will be a negative high
voltage, and the electrode (13) side will be grounded.
[0044]
After the photocatalyst film (8) was dyed with a
ruthenium series dye referred to as "N3" or "N719", an
iodine series electrolyte solution was applied onto the
surface of the photocatalyst film (8) . In this manner, a
photocatalyst electrode (10) was constructed.

[0045]
A counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) was
formed in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0046]
Two sheets of the photocatalyst electrodes (negative
electrodes) (10) were disposed to oppose each other, and
the counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) having a
plurality of openings (9) was disposed between these
negative electrodes so that the photocatalyst film (8) of
the former would face the carbon nanotube film (5) of the
latter. A sealing piece (6) made of thermosetting resin or
photosetting resin was allowed to intervene between the
peripheries of the three sheets of electrodes, and these
electrodes were integrated with the sealing piece (6),
thereby to construct a dye-sensitized solar battery cell.
The inside of the cell was impregnated with an iodine
series electrolyte solution.
[0047]
On this cell construction, the electric power
conversion efficiency was measured by standard light source
radiation of AM 1.5 and 100 mW/cm2, with a result that the
conversion efficiency was 7.2 to 7.4%.
[0048]
EXAMPLE 4
In Fig. 7, a transparent substrate (1) for an

electrode made of glass substrate or plastics whose surface
is covered with a transparent conductive film (2) such as
ITO was disposed on an electrode (12) made of metal plate
to which a high-voltage power source (14) was connected. A
counter electrode (13) made of metal plate was disposed to
face this substrate (1). A negative high voltage was
applied between these electrodes (12) (13) to form an
electrostatic field. Here, the two are connected so that
the electrode (12) side will be a negative high voltage,
and the counter electrode (13) side will be grounded.
[0049]
In this Example, an electric field of -1.5 to -2
kV/cm was formed between the electrodes.
[0050]
In this state, a paste containing a mixture of a
photocatalyst such as titanium oxide particles (3) and
carbon nanotube particles (25) finely ground by a
supersonic cleaner was applied onto the transparent
electrode film. Further, the paste was extended with use
of a doctor blade (16) formed by a spatula made of resin so
that the paste surface would be uniform, thereby to form a
coating film.
[0051]
The carbon nanotube particles contained in a
dispersion form in this coating film will move to the

substrate (1) side by the electrostatic field formed
between the electrodes, or will be aligned in a
perpendicular direction to the substrate (1) surface in the
photocatalyst layer. Here, no problem is raised even if
the dispersed carbon nanotube particles are tilted slightly
in an oblique direction without being oriented completely
in the perpendicular direction to the substrate (1)
surface.
[0052]
In this state, the wet coating film was dried by warm
wind or hot wind from the outside, and was sintered to form
a photocatalyst film (8) containing titanium oxide
particles (3) and carbon nanotube particles (25) on the
transparent conductive film (2) on the substrate (1).
[0053]
After the photocatalyst film (8) was dyed with a
ruthenium series dye referred to as "N3" or "N719", an
iodine series electrolyte solution was applied onto the
surface of the photocatalyst film (8). In this manner, a
photocatalyst electrode was constructed.
[0054]
In this Example, the film thickness at the time of
paste application was about 10 0 µm, and the film thickness
of the photocatalyst layer (8) after drying and sintering
was about 10 µm.

[0055]
A counter electrode (positive electrode) (11) was
formed in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0056]
A dye-sensitized solar battery cell was constructed
in the same manner as in Example 1 from the photocatalyst
electrode (negative electrode) and the counter electrode
(positive electrode).
[0057]
On this cell construction, the electric power
conversion efficiency was measured by standard light source
radiation of AM 1.5 and 100 mW/cm2, with a result that the
conversion efficiency was 6.5 to 6.8%.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058]
[FIG. 1] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
solar battery cell according to Example 1.
[FIG. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
solar battery cell according to Example 2.
[FIG. 3] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
solar battery cell according to Example 3.
[FIG. 4] Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a metal
sheet having a plurality of openings.
[FIG. 5] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the

electrophoresis method in Example 2.
[FIG. 6] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
method of forming a photocatalyst layer by the
electrophoresis method in Example 3.
[FIG. 7] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a
method of forming a photocatalyst layer by the
electrostatic method in Example 4.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0059]
(1) transparent substrate
(2) (18) transparent conductive film
(3) titanium oxide particles
(4) substrate for counter electrode
(5) (15) carbon nanotube film
(6) sealing piece
(7) conductive adhesive agent layer
(8) photocatalyst film
(9) opening
(10) photocatalyst electrode (reference
electrode or negative electrode)
(11) counter electrode (positive electrode)
(12) (13) electrode
(14) high-voltage power source
(15) carbon nanotube film

(16) doctor blade
(17) dispersion liquid
(2 5) carbon nanotube particles

CLAIMS
1. A photoelectric conversion element wherein
two sheets of reference electrodes constructed by-
forming a photocatalyst film dyed with a photosensitizing
dye on one surface of a transparent substrate via a
transparent conductive film are disposed to oppose each
other,
a counter electrode is disposed between these
reference electrodes, and
the counter electrode is constructed in such a manner
that, via a conductive adhesive agent layer that covers the
whole of the non-opening parts on both surfaces of a
counter electrode substrate having a plurality of openings,
a brush-shaped carbon nanotube that is oriented
substantially perpendicularly to the substrate surface is
disposed.
2. The photoelectric conversion element according to
claim 1, wherein the reference electrode is constructed by
allowing a brush-shaped carbon nanotube disposed
substantially perpendicularly to the substrate surface on
the transparent conductive film on the transparent
substrate to carry photocatalyst particles, and dyeing the
particles with a photosensitizing dye.

3. The photoelectric conversion element according to
claim 1, wherein the reference electrode is constructed by-
forming a photocatalyst film made of a mixture of carbon
nanotube particles and photocatalyst particles on the
transparent conductive film on the transparent substrate,
and dyeing the photocatalyst film with a photosensitizing
dye.
4. The photoelectric conversion element according to
claim 3, wherein the reference electrode is in contact with
the brush-shaped carbon nanotube of the counter electrode.
5. A method of producing a photoelectric conversion
element comprising:
constructing a reference electrode by forming a
photocatalyst film dyed with a photosensitizing dye on one
surface of a transparent substrate via a transparent
conductive film;
disposing two sheets of the obtained reference
electrode to oppose each other; and
disposing a counter electrode between these reference
electrodes, the counter electrode being constructed in such
a manner that, via a conductive adhesive agent layer that
covers the whole of the non-opening parts on both surfaces

of a counter electrode substrate having a plurality of
openings, a brush-shaped carbon nanotube that is oriented
substantially perpendicularly to the substrate surface is
disposed.
6. The method of producing a photoelectric
conversion element according to claim 5, wherein the
reference electrode is constructed by forming a transparent
conductive film on one surface of a transparent substrate,
transcribing a separately formed brush-shaped carbon
nanotube onto the conductive film in such a manner that the
brush-shaped carbon nanotube may be oriented substantially
perpendicularly to the substrate surface, allowing the
carbon nanotube to carry photocatalyst particles, and
dyeing the particles with a photosensitizing dye.
7. The method of producing a photoelectric
conversion element according to claim 5, wherein the
reference electrode is constructed by forming a transparent
conductive film on a transparent substrate, forming a
photocatalyst film made of a mixture of carbon nanotube
particles and photocatalyst particles on the conductive
film, and dyeing the photocatalyst film with a
photosensitizing dye.

8. The method of producing a photoelectric
conversion element according to claim 7, wherein, in
forming a photocatalyst film made of a mixture of carbon
nanotube particles and photocatalyst particles on the
transparent conductive film, a paste containing the mixture
is applied onto the transparent conductive film, followed
by drying.
9. The method of producing a photoelectric
conversion element according to claim 8, wherein, in
applying the paste onto the transparent conductive film,
the application is carried out in a state in which an
electrostatic field is formed between the transparent
conductive film and the reference electrode opposing
thereto.

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element,
which has high power generating efficiency with no problem of
corrosion and is applicable to a low heat resistant substrate. A
method for manufacturing such photoelectric conversion element
is also provided. Two electrodes (10) are constituted by forming
a photocatalytic film (8) dyed by photosensitizing dye on one surface
of a transparent substrate (1) through a transparent conductive
film (2). The two electrodes are arranged to face each other, and
a counter electrode (11) is arranged between the two electrodes.
The counter electrode is constituted by arranging a brush-like carbon
nanotube film (5) aligned substantially vertical to the substrate
surface, through a conductive adhesive layer (7) covering the entire
unopened section on the both surfaces of a counter electrode
substrate (4) having a plurality of openings (9).