Abstract:
To provide a novel visible light-responsive photocatalyst or tungsten oxide visible light-responsive semiconductor improved in environmental resistance under an alkaline condition. The tungsten oxide visible light-responsive semiconductor unstable under an alkaline condition is improved in environmental resistance without losing photocatalytic function thereof by adding thereto at least one element selected from the group consisting of copper, tantalum, niobium, lanthanum, bismuth, calcium, chromium, manganese and zinc. The obtained environmental resistant visible light-responsive photocatalyst is subjected to an alkaline treatment to thereby be improved in photocatalytic activity.
Abstract:
Disclosed are semiconductor thin film electrodes made by using specific organic dyes as the photosensitizer, high-efficiency dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion devices made by using the electrodes, and dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical solar cells made by using the devices. The thin film electrodes are characterized by being made of a semiconductor sensitized with an organic dye represented by the general formula (1): (1) wherein Z is an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; L is an electron-attracting group; R1 to R3 are each hydrogen or a substituent, or any adjacent two of R1 to R3 may be united to form a cyclic structure; M is hydrogen or a salt-forming cation; and n is an integer of 0 to 3.