Patent ID: 7977569

Claim:
A dye sensitized solar cell module in which a plurality of dye sensitized solar cells are laterally arranged and connected in series with an intercell region interposed therebetween, each one of said plurality of dye sensitized solar cells comprising: a first common transparent substrate which is a continuous single transparent substrate and commonly used for any other one of said plurality of dye sensitized solar cells; a first transparent conductive film, being formed on said first transparent substrate, which is constituted by a first electrode portion provided in a cell region and a first extended portion reaching an inner part of the intercell region from one end of the first electrode portion; a dye carrying oxide semiconductor layer which is formed on the first electrode portion of said first transparent conductive film; a second common transparent substrate which is a continuous single transparent substrate and commonly used for any other one of said plurality of dye sensitized solar cells; a second transparent conductive film, being formed on the second common transparent substrate, which is constituted by a second electrode portion provided in the cell region and a second extended portion reaching the inner part of the intercell region from one end of the second electrode portion; a catalyst layer which is integrally formed on the second electrode portion and the second extended portion of said second transparent conductive film, and an electrolyte layer which is provided between said dye carrying oxide semiconductor layer and said catalyst layer, wherein an insulating barrier is provided on each side of the cell region and seals the cell region in a fluid tight manner, and wherein an electrode connecting portion is further provided vertically between the insulating barrier of the cell region and an insulating barrier of another cell region being adjacently provided thereto so as to electrically connect the first transparent conductive film of the cell and the second transparent conductive film of said another cell, a side surface of said electrode connecting portion directly contacting a side surface of only one of the first and second transparent conductive films, and said electrode connecting portion fully penetrates through only one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate in the vertical direction such that one end of the electrode connecting portion is externally exposed and flush with a surface of the penetrated transparent substrate, and an opposite end of the electrode connecting portion directly contacts a surface of the first or second transparent conductive film.