Photoelectric conversion element

Abstract

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element including: a first electrode having opaqueness to light and formed of a metal; a hole blocking layer provided on the first electrode; an electron transport layer provided on the hole blocking layer; a hole transport layer provided on the electron transport layer; and a second electrode provided on the hole transport layer and having transmissivity to light, wherein the hole blocking layer contains an oxide of the metal in the first electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photoelectric conversion element comprising:
 a first electrode formed of a metal;   a hole blocking layer provided on the first electrode;   an electron transport layer provided on the hole blocking layer;   a hole transport layer provided on the electron transport layer; and   a second electrode provided on the hole transport layer,   wherein   the hole blocking layer comprises an oxide of the metal in the first electrode, and   the hole transport layer comprises a basic compound of formula (1):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or aromatic hydrocarbon group and may be identical or different, and R1 and R2 may bind with each other to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group comprising a nitrogen atom. 
     
     
         2 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide of the metal in the hole blocking layer is obtained by subjecting the first electrode to a heating treatment in an oxygen atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide of the metal in the hole blocking layer is obtained by a reactive sputter method by an oxygen gas using a target formed of the metal. 
     
     
         4 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide of the metal in the hole blocking layer comprises titanium oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the hole transport layer comprises a hole transport material represented by structural formula (1) below, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, titanium, and aluminium. 
     
     
         7 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polythiophene and metal nanowire. 
     
     
         8 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the hole transport layer comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. 
     
     
         9 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the photoelectric conversion element is used in an environment under weak light of from 50 Lux through 300 Lux. 
     
     
         10 . The photoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a layer directly on a substrate, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a glass plate, a transparent plastic plate, a transparent plastic film, and an inorganic transparent crystal. 
     
     
         11 . A photoelectric conversion element comprising:
 a first electrode;   a hole blocking layer provided on the first electrode;   an electron transport layer provided on the hole blocking layer;   a hole transport layer provided on the electron transport layer; and   a second electrode provided on the hole transport layer, wherein   the hole transport layer comprises a basic compound of formula (1):   wherein R1 and R2 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or aromatic hydrocarbon group and may be identical or different, and R1 and R2 may bind with each other to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group comprising a nitrogen atom.