Patent ID: 8981206
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H01G,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic dye cell for converting a light source into an electrical current, the photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) a housing for the photovoltaic cell, said housing including an at least partially transparent cell wall, said at least partially transparent cell wall having a first interior surface and a second interior surface; (b) an electrolyte, disposed within said at least partially transparent cell wall, between said surfaces; (c) an at least partially transparent, first electrically conductive coating, disposed on said first interior surface, within the photovoltaic cell; (d) an at least partially transparent, second electrically conductive coating, disposed on said second interior surface, within the photovoltaic cell; (e) an anode disposed on said first electrically conductive coating, said anode including: (f) a cathode disposed within said housing, said cathode disposed substantially opposite said anode, said cathode disposed on said second electrically conductive coating; (g) a first plurality of electrically-conductive metallic wires, disposed at least partially within the photovoltaic cell, said wires electrically contacting said anode and said at least partially transparent, first electrically conductive coating; (h) a second plurality of electrically-conductive metallic wires, disposed at least partially within the photovoltaic cell, said wires of said second plurality electrically contacting said cathode and said second electrically conductive coating; and (i)) a current collection element, electrically connected to each of said electrically-conductive metallic wires in said first and second pluralities, and configured to remove, therethrough, the current produced by the photovoltaic cell; a first plurality of grooves being disposed in said first interior surface of said at least partially transparent cell wall, a contiguity of said first electrically conductive coating being interrupted by said grooves, each of said grooves at least partially containing a wire of said first plurality of wires; and a second plurality of grooves being disposed in said second interior surface of said at least partially transparent cell wall, each of said second plurality of grooves at least partially containing a wire of said second plurality of wires.