JP2009278815A - Photoelectric converter - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a photoelectric conversion device that can increase the power generation efficiency by actively capturing electrons from an emitter while actively releasing electrons from the emitter by a photoelectric effect.
A collector is formed of a transparent conductive member, and includes a conductive electrode member having an electrode surface that faces the emission surface of the collector with a gap. The emitter 9 is disposed between the electrode member 13 and the collector 11, and a plurality of local areas of the emission surface 11 b of the collector 11 are exposed to the electrode surface 13 a side of the electrode member 13 through the plurality of through holes 9 c of the emitter 9. . By irradiating the emitter 9 with light through the collector 11 with a voltage applied between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13, a photoelectric effect is generated on the incident surface 9 a of the emitter 9 while heating the emitter 9. Let
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device that converts light energy into electrical energy.

  As photoelectric conversion devices that convert light energy, such as sunlight, into electrical energy, for example, techniques found in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose photoelectric conversion devices using thermoelectrons. In these devices, the emitter in the vacuum vessel is heated to a high temperature by the condensed sunlight, and thermionic electrons are emitted from the emitter and captured by the collector. An electromotive force is generated during the period.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a photoelectric conversion device using a photoelectric effect. In this apparatus, a plurality of electrodes that generate a photoelectric effect are arranged in a vacuum container so as to be substantially parallel to each other. Then, by making sunlight enter the surface of one electrode from the gap between the electrodes adjacent to each other, electrons are emitted from the surface of the one electrode (emitter) by the photoelectric effect, and the emitted electrons Is captured by the other electrode (collector), and an electromotive force is generated between these electrodes.

Patent Document 4 discloses a photoelectric conversion device that uses thermal electrons and a photoelectric effect. In this device, a mesh-like collector and emitter are placed in a low-pressure cesium-enclosed thermoelectric generator tube, and the emitter is heated by irradiating the emitter with strong light such as concentrated sunlight through the mesh-like collector. On the other hand, thermoelectrons and electrons due to the photoelectric effect are emitted from the emitter and captured by a mesh collector to generate an electromotive force between the emitter and the collector. In this case, cesium atoms (alkali metal atoms) existing between the collector and the emitter are excited and ionized with light in a short wavelength region, thereby neutralizing the negative charge between the emitter and the collector, and from the emitter to the collector. To increase the number of electrons flowing through
Japanese Patent No. 3449623 JP-A-2005-347552 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 61-48349 JP 2002-78364 A

  As seen in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4, in a photoelectric conversion device that emits thermoelectrons from the emitter by heating the emitter with condensed sunlight or the like, generally thermionic emission from the emitter In order to increase the quantity, it is necessary to heat the emitter to a very high temperature. Therefore, high heat resistance is required for the emitter and its peripheral members, which are likely to be expensive, and the light collecting device is also likely to be large and expensive. In addition, since the emitter and the like are likely to undergo thermal expansion and thermal deformation, it is difficult to sufficiently reduce the distance between the emitter and the collector in order to prevent a short circuit between the emitter and the collector. Therefore, it is difficult for the collector to efficiently capture the thermal electrons emitted from the emitter. In order to efficiently capture the thermal electrons in the collector, a device for generating an external electric field or an external magnetic field is provided as shown in Patent Document 1, and the thermal electrons emitted from the emitter are forcibly directed to the collector. Alternatively, as shown in Patent Document 4, it is necessary to enclose alkali metal atoms such as cesium in a container that accommodates the emitter and collector. As a result, there is an inconvenience that the whole photoelectric conversion device becomes large or expensive.

  On the other hand, in the case of utilizing the photoelectric effect as seen in Patent Document 3, electron emission due to the photoelectric effect can be generated even when the temperature of the emitter is not as high as in the case of thermionic emission. However, in the case of irradiating the surface of the emitter (surface on the collector side) with sunlight from the gap between the emitter and the collector as in Patent Document 3, if the distance between the emitter and the collector is too small, A sufficient amount of light cannot be applied to the entire surface of the emitter. For this reason, the distance between the emitter and the collector cannot be made sufficiently small, and as a result, it becomes difficult for the collector to efficiently capture the electrons emitted by the photoelectric effect from the surface of the emitter.

  On the other hand, as seen in Patent Document 4, when using a collector formed in a mesh shape and irradiating light to the emitter through the collector, regardless of the distance between the collector and the emitter, It is possible to irradiate the emitter with a sufficient amount of light. However, in this case, since the collector has a mesh shape, among the electrons emitted from the emitter, more electrons pass through the collector without being captured by the collector. For this reason, when the collector is formed in a mesh shape as seen in Patent Document 4, even if the distance between the collector and the emitter is sufficiently small, electrons emitted from the emitter by the photoelectric effect are efficiently collected by the collector. It is difficult to capture. Also, in order to make the emitted electrons from the emitter easily captured by the collector, it is difficult to irradiate the emitter with a sufficient amount of light if the area of the through hole of the collector is reduced or the number of through holes is reduced. Become. As a result, it is difficult to generate a sufficient electromotive force between the emitter and the collector mainly by the emitted electrons due to the photoelectric effect. As seen in Patent Document 4, not only electrons due to the photoelectric effect but also thermionic electrons are generated from the emitter. However, it is necessary to increase the total amount of electrons emitted or to enclose alkali metal in the container.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and photoelectric conversion that can increase the power generation efficiency by actively capturing the electrons in the emitter while actively emitting electrons from the emitter by the photoelectric effect. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the photoelectric conversion device of the present invention has an incident surface for light, an emitter capable of emitting electrons by the photoelectric effect on the incident surface, and an electron emitted from the incident surface of the emitter. A photoelectric conversion device that outputs an electromotive force generated between the emitter and the collector, the collector comprising a transparent conductive member having a light incident surface and an output surface In addition, a conductive electrode member having an electrode surface facing the emission surface with a gap from the emission surface of the collector is provided in a state of being insulated from the collector, and the emitter is connected to the emission surface of the collector. Between the electrode surface of the electrode member, the collector and the electrode member are insulated and the incident surface of the emitter is disposed facing the output surface with a gap from the output surface of the collector. Both A plurality of local areas of the output surface of the collector are formed to be exposed to the electrode surface side in the interval direction between the output surface of the collector and the electrode surface of the electrode member, and between the collector and the electrode member, While the collector is applied with a voltage that is a positive potential with respect to the electrode member, the incident surface of the emitter is irradiated with light from the incident surface side of the collector through the collector while heating the emitter. A photoelectric effect is generated at the incident surface of the emitter (first invention).

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the collector is made of a transparent conductive member, a sufficient amount of light can be irradiated to the incident surface of the emitter from the incident surface side of the collector through the collector. . For this reason, the photoelectric effect can be generated on the incident surface of the emitter while heating the emitter by the light.

  Here, according to various experiments and examinations by the inventors of the present application, electron emission by the photoelectric effect is actively performed by heating the emitter to an appropriate temperature. Thus, the temperature of the emitter where the electron emission due to the photoelectric effect is actively performed does not have to be a high temperature at which thermionic emission from the emitter is actively performed, but a temperature lower than that (200 to 700 °). A temperature of about C) is sufficient. Then, heating the emitter to such a temperature can be easily realized by irradiating the emitter with light using an inexpensive optical system without requiring an expensive condensing means or a heater.

  Furthermore, in the first aspect of the invention, a voltage at which the collector has a positive potential with respect to the electrode member is applied between the collector and the electrode member when light is incident on the incident surface of the emitter. In this case, the emitter is formed so as to expose a plurality of local areas of the emission surface of the collector to the electrode surface side in the interval direction between the emission surface of the collector and the electrode surface of the electrode member. In other words, among the electrode surfaces of the electrode member, a position (local position of the electrode surface) that faces each of a plurality of local areas of the collector emission surface and each local area of the collector emission surface The emitter is formed so that no emitter is interposed therebetween. Therefore, an electric field is formed between a plurality of local areas on the emission surface of the collector and the portions of the electrode surfaces of the electrode members that face the local areas. This electric field is an electric field in a direction in which electrons emitted from the incident surface of the emitter are directed to the output surface of the collector.

  For this reason, most of the electrons emitted by the photoelectric effect from the incident surface of the emitter can be smoothly moved toward the output surface of the collector. In addition, since electron emission due to the photoelectric effect can be actively generated without heating the emitter to a very high temperature, thermal expansion and thermal deformation of the emitter, collector, vacuum vessel, etc. are suppressed, and there is no gap between the emitter and collector. Can be reduced. Further, it is possible to reduce energy loss due to radiation such as infrared light from the emitter and heat conduction. As a result, it is possible to efficiently generate the photoelectric effect on the incident surface of the emitter, efficiently capture the electrons emitted by the photoelectric effect by the collector, and increase the electromotive force generated between the emitter and the collector. it can.

  Therefore, according to the photoelectric conversion device of the first invention, the electrons can be efficiently captured by the emitter while actively emitting electrons from the emitter due to the photoelectric effect, and the power generation efficiency can be increased.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the emitter is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating in the interval direction between the emission surface of the collector and the electrode surface of the electrode member (second aspect). According to the second aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the electrode surface of the electrode member that faces the through hole of the emitter can be exposed to the exit surface of the collector through the through hole.

  Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a structure for exposing a plurality of local portions of the electrode surface of the electrode member toward the emission surface of the collector.

  In the first invention or the second invention, the emitter is fixed to the electrode member via an emitter-electrode member that is an insulating member interposed between the electrode member and the electrode surface. It is preferable (third invention).

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the emitter and the electrode member are integrated via the emitter-electrode member, so that each of the emitter, the electrode member, and the emitter-electrode member is made thin, It is easy to ensure the rigidity of the integrated structure. Further, since each of the emitter, the electrode member, and the emitter / electrode member can be made thin, the emitter can be efficiently heated by the light incident on the incident surface of the emitter.

  In the first to third aspects of the invention, a vacuum vessel that houses at least the emitter and collector of the emitter, collector, and electrode member is provided, and the vacuum vessel faces at least the incident surface of the collector. It is preferable that the portion is configured to be transparent (fourth invention).

  Or in the said 1st-3rd invention, while providing the cyclic | annular member which is an insulating member formed cyclically | annularly, the emission surface of the said collector and the incident surface of the said emitter are each in the axial direction both end surface of this cyclic | annular member It is preferable that a vacuum sealed space defined by the inner peripheral surface of the annular member, the incident surface of the emitter, and the exit surface of the collector is formed inside the annular member (fifth invention). .

  According to the fourth invention, since the emitter and the collector are accommodated inside the vacuum vessel, electrons emitted from the incident surface of the emitter collide with atoms and molecules between the emitter and the collector, It can be prevented from reaching the collector. As a result, more electrons are emitted from the emitter and captured by the collector. As a result, the power generation efficiency of the photoelectric conversion device can be further increased. In the fourth aspect of the invention, since at least a portion facing the incident surface of the collector is transparent in the vacuum vessel, light can be incident on the incident surface of the collector through the transparent portion without any trouble. Can do.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the vacuum sealed space defined by the inner peripheral surface of the annular member, the incident surface of the emitter, and the exit surface of the collector is formed, the incident surface of the emitter Electrons emitted into the sealed space can be prevented from colliding with atoms and molecules between the emitter and the collector and being prevented from reaching the collector. As a result, more electrons are emitted from the emitter and captured by the collector. As a result, the power generation efficiency of the photoelectric conversion device can be further increased.

  In the fifth invention, there is provided an emitter-collector auxiliary member that is an insulating member locally disposed inside the sealed space, and both end surfaces of the emitter-collector auxiliary member in the axial direction of the annular member are respectively It is preferable that the collector is joined to the exit surface of the collector and the entrance surface of the emitter (sixth invention).

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the emitter and the collector from being bent due to a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the sealed space, and the emitter and the collector are electrically connected (short-circuited) due to the bending. Can be prevented. In addition, since the emitter can be thinned, the emitter can be efficiently heated by the light incident on the incident surface of the emitter.

  In the first to sixth inventions, it is preferable to include a condensing unit that collects sunlight and enters the incident surface of the connector (seventh invention).

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the light energy of sunlight can be efficiently converted into electric energy.

  And in this 7th invention, it is preferable that the said condensing means is comprised by the Fresnel lens (8th invention).

  Thus, the condensing means can be constructed at low cost by configuring the condensing means with a Fresnel lens.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the photoelectric conversion device of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electromotive force generation unit of the photoelectric conversion device, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion device 1 of the present embodiment includes an optical lens 3 as a condensing unit that condenses sunlight, and an electromotive force generation that irradiates the sunlight condensed by the optical lens 3. Part 5. The optical lens 3 is a Fresnel lens in this embodiment, and is made of a transparent material such as glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate. In this case, since the optical lens 3 is a Fresnel lens, sunlight can be sufficiently condensed while the thickness thereof is relatively thin. For this reason, a condensing means can be comprised at low cost.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electromotive force generator 5 includes a vacuum vessel 7 whose inside is sealed in a substantially vacuum state, an emitter 9, a collector 11, and an electron acceleration housed in the vacuum vessel 7. Electrode member 13.

  In this embodiment, the vacuum vessel 7 is a rectangular parallelepiped (quadrangular prism shape) vessel, and the whole is made of a transparent insulating material. The constituent material is Kovar glass in the present embodiment. And the vacuum degree of the vacuum vessel 7 is about 100 Pa, for example. Moreover, the external dimension of the vacuum vessel 7 is 40 mm x 40 mm x 6 mm, for example. In the following description, among the wall portions of the vacuum vessel 7, the upper wall portion in the height direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) of the vacuum vessel 7 is the ceiling portion 7a, the lower wall portion is the bottom portion 7b, A wall portion standing in the height direction between the ceiling portion 7a and the bottom portion 7b is referred to as a side wall portion 7c.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum vessel 7 is arranged so that a ceiling portion 7 a as a flat transparent portion of the vacuum vessel 7 faces the optical lens 3 in a posture perpendicular to the axis of the optical lens 3. The sunlight condensed by the optical lens 3 enters the inside of the vacuum vessel 7 through the ceiling portion 7a.

  Supplementally, the entire vacuum container 7 does not need to be transparent, and only a part of the wall portion of the vacuum container 7, for example, the ceiling portion 7 a may be transparent. Moreover, the shape of the vacuum vessel 7 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape (quadrangular prism shape), and may be a cylindrical shape, a triangular prism shape, a hexagonal prism shape, or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the optical lens 3 and the vacuum container 7 have the sunlight incident from a direction perpendicular to the incident surface 3a of the optical lens 3 (Fresnel lens) (axial direction of the optical lens 3). The solar light is disposed in such a positional relationship that it is condensed near the emitter 9 inside the vacuum vessel 7. Therefore, while maintaining the positional relationship between the optical lens 3 and the vacuum vessel 7, a mechanism for moving the optical lens 3 and the vacuum vessel 7 integrally so that the axis of the optical lens 3 is always directed to the sun is provided. It is preferable that sunlight is always incident on the optical lens 3 in the axial direction of the optical lens 3.

  The emitter 9 is made of a conductive material capable of emitting electrons by photoelectric effect when irradiated with sunlight. In this embodiment, the emitter 9 is formed in a thin flat plate shape in which the outer shape of the main body portion (excluding the terminal portion 9d described later) is a square shape (square shape) when viewed in the thickness direction of the emitter 9. ing. The external dimensions are, for example, 30 mm × 30 mm × 0.1 mm. The emitter 9 is disposed inside the vacuum vessel 7 in a posture parallel to the ceiling 7a and the bottom 7b of the vacuum vessel 7 and in a non-contact state with the inner surface of the vacuum vessel 7.

  The emitter 9 has a plurality of slits 9c (elongated through holes) as a plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction in the main body portion. These slits 9c extend in parallel to each other and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction. The width and length of each slit 9c are, for example, 0.5 mm and 26 mm, respectively.

  The outer shape of the main body of the emitter 9 is not limited to a square plate shape, and may be a disk shape, for example. Further, the through hole formed in the emitter 9 may not be a slit-shaped hole. For example, instead of the plurality of slits 9c, a plurality of circular through holes or the like may be formed in the emitter 9 in a scattered manner. Further, instead of the plurality of slits 9c, for example, a plurality of elongated notches may be formed from one side of the main body of the emitter 9.

  In the present embodiment, for example, carbon is used as the conductive material constituting the emitter 9. Of the two surfaces 9a and 9b in the thickness direction of the emitter 9, the surface 9a on the ceiling 7a side of the vacuum vessel 7 is a sunlight incident surface, and the incident surface 9a is connected to the ceiling 7a of the vacuum vessel 7. It faces the ceiling portion 7a with a certain interval.

  In addition, in order to reduce the work function of the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 (to reduce the energy required for emitting electrons from the incident surface 9a), the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 has cesium oxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, etc. You may form the film layer which consists of.

  Further, a terminal portion 9 d formed integrally with the main body portion of the emitter 9 extends from one side of the outer periphery of the main body portion of the emitter 9 in a direction perpendicular to the side. The terminal portion 9 d penetrates the side wall portion 7 c of the vacuum vessel 7 in an airtight manner, and the tip portion thereof protrudes outside the vacuum vessel 7. As will be described later, the outer terminal portion 9d functions as an output terminal (positive-side output terminal) for outputting an electromotive force generated between the emitter 9 and the collector 11 to the outside.

  The electrode member 13 is formed in a thin flat plate shape using a conductive material such as nickel or kovar. The electrode member 13 has the same shape (square shape) as that of the main body of the emitter 9 when viewed in the thickness direction. One surface 13a of the both surfaces 13a, 13b in the thickness direction of the electrode member 13 is an electrode surface, and this electrode surface 13a is interposed between the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 and the opposite surface 9b. It is fixed to the emitter 9 via an emitter-electrode member 15 which is a thin rectangular plate-like insulating member. The constituent material (insulating material) of the emitter-electrode member 15 is, for example, silicon oxide. Thus, the emitter 9, the electrode member 13, and the emitter-electrode member 15 are integrated in a state where the emitter 9 and the electrode member 15 are electrically insulated.

  In this case, in this embodiment, the entire electrode surface 13 a of the electrode member 13 is covered with the emitter-electrode member 15. However, a slit similar to the slit 9b (through hole) of the emitter 9 is formed in the emitter-electrode member 15, and only the portion of the electrode surface 13a of the electrode member 13 other than the portion facing the slit 9c of the emitter 9 is formed. The emitter / electrode member 15 may be covered. Alternatively, for example, an emitter-electrode member may be interposed in a plurality of locations between the emitter 9 and the electrode member 13.

  In the following description, the emitter 9, the electrode member 13, and the emitter / electrode member 15 integrated as described above are referred to as an emitter structure 17.

  The emitter structure 17 has a plurality of pins bonded to a surface 13b opposite to the electrode surface 13a (hereinafter referred to as a back surface 13b of the emitter structure 17) of both surfaces 9a and 9b in the thickness direction of the electrode member 13. It is supported by the vacuum vessel 7 through the support member 19 having a shape. More specifically, in the present embodiment, four support members 19 are respectively provided from the plurality of local portions (four corner portions in the present embodiment) of the back surface 13b of the emitter structure 17 to the bottom portion 7b of the vacuum vessel 7 respectively. It is extended toward. And each support member 19 is attached to this bottom part 7b so that the bottom part 7b of the vacuum vessel 7 may be airtightly penetrated. As a result, the emitter structure 17 is supported on the bottom 7 b of the vacuum vessel 7 via the plurality of support members 19.

  In the present embodiment, each support member 19 is made of a conductive material such as metal and is electrically connected (short-circuited) to the electrode member 13. In this case, each support member 19 is joined to the electrode member 13 by welding, brazing, or a conductive adhesive. In this embodiment, one support member 19 among the support members 19 is a terminal (a terminal on the negative electrode side) for applying a voltage for accelerating electrons between the electrode member 13 and the collector 11 as will be described later. ).

  Here, it supplements regarding the constituent material of each support member 19. FIG. If the thermal expansion coefficient of each support member 19 is significantly different from that of the vacuum container 7, a crack occurs in the vacuum container 7 at a contact portion between each support member 19 and the vacuum container 7, and the airtightness of the vacuum container 7 is impaired. There is a fear. Therefore, the constituent material of each support member 19 is preferably a material having a thermal expansion coefficient as close as possible to the thermal expansion coefficient of the constituent material of the vacuum vessel 7. For this reason, in this embodiment, for example, Kovar glass is used as a constituent material of the vacuum vessel 7, and Kovar is used as a constituent material of each support member 13.

  In this embodiment, all the support members 19 are made of a conductive material, but it is not always necessary to do so. For example, only one support member 19 is made of a conductive material, and the other support member 19 is made of an insulating material or a material having low conductivity (preferably a material that can be easily joined to the electrode member 13 and the vacuum vessel 7). Also good. In this case, the support members 19 other than the support member 19 made of a conductive material do not need to protrude outside the vacuum vessel 7. Further, when the plurality of support members 19 are made of a conductive material, it is not necessary to project all of the support members 19 made of the conductive material to the outside of the vacuum vessel 7, and any one support made of the conductive material is supported. Only the member 19 may be protruded outside the vacuum vessel 7. In addition to the support member 19, a conductive member in the form of a conductive wire or metal foil electrically connected to the electrode member 13 may be led out from the inside of the vacuum vessel 7. In this case, all the supporting members 19 may be made of a material other than the conductive material, or all the supporting members 19 may not be protruded outside the vacuum vessel 7.

  Further, for example, a plurality of support members are extended from the back surface 13b of the emitter structure 17 in the lateral direction (a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the emitter structure 17), and the emitter structure 17 is attached to the vacuum container via these support members. 7 may be supported by the side wall portion 7c.

  The collector 11 is made of a transparent conductive member formed in a film shape (in this embodiment, a rectangular film shape), that is, a transparent conductive film, and is fixed to the inner surface of the ceiling portion 7 a of the vacuum vessel 7. In this case, the sunlight condensed by the optical lens 3 is incident on the inside of the vacuum vessel 7 from the ceiling 7 a of the vacuum vessel 7, so that the vacuum vessel among the both surfaces 11 a and 11 b in the thickness direction of the collector 11. 7 is a light incident surface, and the opposite surface 11b is a light exit surface. The collector 11 faces the ceiling surface 7a of the vacuum vessel 7 so that the exit surface 11b faces the entrance surface 9a of the emitter 9 with a certain distance from the entrance surface 9a of the emitter 9. It is fixed. The distance between the exit surface 11b of the collector 11 and the entrance surface 9a of the emitter 9 is, for example, about 1 mm.

  Since the collector 11 is fixed to the ceiling portion 7a of the vacuum vessel 8 in this way, a portion of the emission surface 11b of the collector 11 that faces the slits 9c of the emitter 9 passes through the slits 9c. It will be exposed to the electrode surface 13a side of the member 13.

  In the present embodiment, the transparent conductive film constituting the collector 11 is, for example, indium oxide added with tin oxide (so-called ITO film). The collector 11 is formed on the inner surface of the ceiling portion 7a of the vacuum vessel 7 by a technique such as sputtering or electron beam evaporation.

  The collector 11 may be made of a transparent conductive member other than the ITO film (for example, zinc oxide added with aluminum oxide or gallium oxide). The transparent conductive member constituting the collector 11 is preferably as low in resistivity as possible and high in sunlight transmittance. Further, it is not always necessary to form the collector 11 directly on the inner surface of the wall of the vacuum vessel 7. For example, the collector 11 may be formed on a transparent glass substrate different from the vacuum container 7, and the glass substrate may be fixed or supported on a wall portion such as the ceiling portion 7 a of the vacuum container 7. The shape of the collector 11 is not limited to a square shape, and may be, for example, a circular shape.

  In the peripheral portion of the collector 11, end portions of a plurality of pin-like conductive members 21 attached to the ceiling portion 7 a so as to penetrate the ceiling portion 7 a of the vacuum vessel 7 in an airtight manner (on the inside of the vacuum vessel 7). Edge) is conducted. In the present embodiment, four conductive members 21 are provided, and these conductive members 21 are respectively conducted to the four corners of the collector 11 (see FIG. 3). In this case, each of the conductive members 21 is attached to the ceiling 7a of the vacuum vessel 7, and the collector 11 is formed on the inner surface of the ceiling 7a (including the locations where the conductive members 21 are attached). The conductive member 21 and the collector 11 are joined / conducted.

  The constituent material of the conductive member 21 is preferably a material having a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of the vacuum vessel 7 for the same reason as the support member 19. For this reason, in this embodiment, the same constituent material (Kovar) as that of the support member 19 is used as the constituent material of the conductive member 21. However, the constituent material of the conductive member 21 is not necessarily the same as that of the support member 17.

  These conductive members 21, together with a member functioning as an output terminal (negative-side output terminal) for outputting an electromotive force generated between the emitter 9 and the collector 11, together with the collector 11 and the electrode member 13. It is a member that functions as a terminal for applying a voltage for accelerating electrons (a terminal on the positive electrode side).

  In the present embodiment, each conductive member 21 is formed in a pin shape so as to penetrate the ceiling portion 7a of the vacuum vessel 7. However, for example, the electromotive force generator 5 is provided in the following form. You may do it. That is, for example, a plurality of thin conductive members that are electrically connected to the collector 11 are extended from the peripheral portion of the emission surface 11 b of the collector 11 in a posture substantially parallel to the collector 11, and these conductive members are connected to the vacuum vessel 7. You may make it penetrate the side wall part 7c of airtightly.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the electromotive force generating unit 5 configured as described above includes an electric load 23 that is a supply target of an electromotive force generated between the emitter 9 and the collector 11, and a collector. 11 and the electrode member 13 are connected to a DC power source 25 that applies a voltage for accelerating electrons.

  More specifically, a plurality of (four) conductive members 21 conducted to the collector 11 and the terminal portion 9d of the emitter 9 are connected to the outside of the vacuum vessel 7, respectively, such as a lead wire or a circuit board. To the electrical load 23. Further, the plurality of conductive members 21 are connected to the positive electrode of the DC power supply 25 via a conductive wire, a circuit board, or the like, and one of the plurality of support members 19 (support member 19 made of a conductive material) It is connected to the negative electrode of the DC power supply 25 via a circuit board or the like.

  The electric load 23 may be a device that consumes electric power, or may be a capacitor that stores electric power. Further, an electric load 23 may be connected between the conductive member 21 and the terminal portion 9d via a power converter such as a voltage conversion circuit.

  Supplementally, in the present embodiment, the plurality of conductive members 21 are electrically connected (short-circuited) to each other by a conducting wire or the like outside the vacuum vessel 7. This is due to the following reason. That is, a transparent conductive member such as an ITO film has conductivity, but generally has a higher resistivity than a metal conductor such as copper. Therefore, if only one conductive member is made to conduct to one location on the peripheral edge of the collector 11, the resistance between the local portion of the collector 11 away from the conductive member and the conductive member. As a result, the energy loss increases when the electromotive force is output to the outside (when electrons that have reached the collector 11 from the emitter 9 flow to the outside through the conductive member). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the plurality of conductive members 21 are electrically connected to the plurality of portions on the peripheral edge of the collector 11, and the conductive members 21 are electrically connected (short-circuited) to each other outside the vacuum vessel 7. In this way, when the electromotive force is output to the outside, the electrons that have reached each local portion of the collector 11 from the emitter 9 have a resistance value between the local portion of the plurality of conductive members 21. Since it flows via the smallest conductive member 21, energy loss due to the resistance can be suppressed to a small value. The conductive member conducted to the collector 11 does not block the light incident on the collector 11, and the distance between each local portion of the collector 11 and the conductive member closest to the local portion (and thus the resistance between them). It is desirable to arrange so that (value) becomes as small as possible.

  Next, the power generation operation of the photoelectric conversion device 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  Sunlight is condensed by the optical lens 3 in a state where a voltage (a DC voltage at which the collector 11 has a positive potential with respect to the electrode member 13) is applied between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13 from the DC power supply 25. The light enters the inside of the vacuum vessel 7 through the ceiling 7a. The sunlight is transmitted from the incident surface 11a of the collector 11, which is a transparent conductive film, to the emission surface 11b and is emitted from the emission surface 11b. The sunlight emitted from the emission surface 11 b of the collector 11 is incident on the incident surface 9 a of the emitter 9. At this time, the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 generates a photoelectric effect while being heated by the sunlight collected in the vicinity thereof, and electrons are emitted from the incident surface 9a.

  In this case, an electric field directed from the collector 11 to the electrode member 13 through the slit 9 c of the emitter 9 is caused between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13 by a DC voltage applied between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13. , And their spacing direction (thickness direction of the collector 11 and the emitter structure 17). For this reason, the electrons emitted from the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 by the photoelectric effect are accelerated toward the collector 11 by the electric field. Therefore, most of the electrons emitted from the incident surface 9 a of the emitter 9 move toward the collector 11 and are captured by the collector 11.

  As a result, the emitter 9 has a positive potential with respect to the collector 11, and an electromotive force is generated between the emitter 9 and the collector 11. This electromotive force is supplied to the electric load 23 connected between the terminal portion 9 d of the emitter 9 and the conductive member 21. In addition, since the electromotive force generated between the emitter 9 and the collector 11 is generated in a direction that cancels the electric field between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13, the collector 11 and the electrode are stronger than the electric field strength due to the electromotive force. The voltage of the DC power supply 25 is set so that the strength of the electric field between the members 13 is increased. The voltage is about several volts in this embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, when the electromotive force is generated, in the present embodiment, the optical lens 3 (Fresnel lens) is set so that the temperature of the emitter 9 becomes a temperature within a range of about 200 to 700 ° C. (for example, about 500 ° C.). ) And the distance between the optical lens 3 and the vacuum vessel 7 are set. This temperature range is an appropriate temperature range in which electron emission due to the photoelectric effect at the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 is actively generated, and damage and deterioration of the collector 11 due to heat are prevented. That is, according to various experiments by the present inventors, when the temperature of the emitter 9 is lower than 200 ° C., the electron emission due to the photoelectric effect is too small and a sufficient electromotive force is not generated. Further, it was observed that when the amount of collected light near the emitter 9 was increased so that the temperature of the emitter 9 exceeded 700 ° C., damage and deterioration of the collector 11 due to heat were likely to occur at an early stage.

  At a temperature of about 200 ° C. to 700 ° C., thermionic emission from the emitter 9 does not occur so much, and the emission of the electron from the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 is mainly due to the photoelectric effect.

  In this case, in this embodiment, the distance between the emitter 9 and the collector 11 is as small as about 1 mm, but it is not necessary to set the temperature of the emitter 9 to a high temperature exceeding 700 ° C. A situation in which the emitter 9 and the collector 11 are short-circuited due to thermal deformation or thermal expansion of the emitter 9 can be avoided. Further, it is possible to prevent the collector 11 which is a transparent conductive film from being damaged by high-temperature heat.

  In addition, the distance between the emitter 9 and the collector 11 can be reduced, and a DC voltage having a positive potential with respect to the electrode member 13 on the collector 11 side is applied between the collector 11 and the electrode member 13 so that the emitter 9 is incident. Since an electric field for directing electrons emitted from the surface 9a to the collector 11 is generated, electrons emitted from the incident surface 9a of the emitter 9 can be efficiently captured by the collector 11. Further, since the emitter 9 is heated to 200 ° C. or more by sunlight, the photoelectric effect can be actively generated, and the amount of electron emission due to the photoelectric effect can be increased. At this time, the heated emitter 9 is not in direct contact with the inner surface of the vacuum vessel 7 and the periphery of the emitter 9 is in a vacuum state, so that the amount of heat released from the emitter 9 to the vacuum vessel 7 and the like is reduced. The emitter 9 can be efficiently heated to a temperature suitable for the generation of the photoelectric effect by sunlight. Furthermore, since the temperature of the emitter 9 is not so high, it is possible to reduce energy loss due to radiation of infrared light or the like from the emitter 9 or heat conduction.

As a result, according to the photoelectric conversion device 1 of the present embodiment, the light energy of sunlight can be efficiently converted into electric energy while reducing energy loss, and the power generation efficiency of the photoelectric conversion device 1 is increased. Can do.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electromotive force generation unit of the photoelectric conversion device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  The photoelectric conversion device of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment only in the structure of the electromotive force generator. Therefore, in the following description of the present embodiment, the components other than the electromotive force generator are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the electromotive force generator 31 of the photoelectric conversion device of the present embodiment includes an annular member 33, an emitter 35, a collector 37, and an electrode member 39.

  The annular member 33 is an insulating member formed in an annular shape, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape in the present embodiment. The constituent material of the annular member 33 is, for example, silicon oxide. The length (thickness) in the axial direction of the annular member 33 is, for example, 100 μm.

  The annular member 33 is not limited to a rectangular frame shape, and may be formed in a frame shape such as a circle, a triangle, or a hexagon. Further, as the constituent material of the annular member 33, an insulating material such as an epoxy resin or a ceramic material may be used.

  The emitter 35 is formed in a thin flat plate shape (a square plate shape in the present embodiment) from a conductive material such as carbon that can emit electrons by the photoelectric effect when irradiated with sunlight. One surface 35a is an incident surface of sunlight. As in the first embodiment, the emitter 35 is provided with a plurality of slits 35c (elongated through holes) as a plurality of through holes penetrating in the thickness direction.

  As in the case of the first embodiment, the outer shape of the emitter 35 is not limited to a rectangular plate shape, and may be, for example, a disk shape. Further, instead of the plurality of slits 35c, for example, a plurality of circular through holes may be formed in the emitter 35 in a scattered manner. Alternatively, instead of the plurality of slits 35c, for example, a plurality of elongated notches may be formed from one side of the emitter 35. In order to lower the work function of the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35, a film layer made of cesium oxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, or the like may be formed on the incident surface 35a. In this case, the coating layer may be formed on the entire incident surface 35a of the emitter 35, and the coating layer is formed only on a portion of the incident surface 35a facing a sealed space 45 described later. May be.

  An incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 closes one end surface 33b side of both end surfaces 33a and 33b in the axial direction of the annular member 33, and an adhesive (for example, glass) is not shown on the end surface 33b. Frit, epoxy resin, ceramic adhesive, etc.).

  In this case, in the present embodiment, the area of the emitter 35 viewed in the axial direction of the annular member 33 is larger than the outer area of the annular member 33, and one side of the emitter 35 is on the side of the annular member 33. Overhangs. Further, the slit 35 c of the emitter 35 is formed so as to fit inside the annular member 33. It should be noted that a plurality of peripheral portions of the emitter 35 may be projected to the side of the annular member 33.

  As in the first embodiment, the electrode member 39 is formed in a thin flat plate shape using a conductive material such as nickel or kovar. The electrode member 39 has the same shape (square shape) as that of the emitter 35 when viewed in the thickness direction. One surface 39a of both surfaces 39a, 39b in the thickness direction of the electrode member 39 is used as an electrode surface, and this electrode surface 39a is interposed between the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 and the surface 35b on the opposite side. It is fixed to the emitter 35 via an emitter-electrode member 41, which is a thin rectangular plate-like insulating member. The constituent material (insulating material) of the emitter-electrode member 41 is, for example, silicon oxide. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the emitter 35, the electrode member 39, and the emitter-electrode member 41 are integrated while the emitter 35 and the electrode member 39 are electrically insulated.

  In the present embodiment, the entire electrode surface 39a of the electrode member 39 is covered with the emitter-electrode member 41. However, as in the case of the first embodiment, of the electrode surfaces 39a of the electrode member 39, Only a portion other than the portion facing the slit 35 c of the emitter 35 may be covered with the emitter-electrode member 41. Or you may make it interpose the emitter-electrode member 41 in the some locality between the emitter 35 and the electrode member 13, for example.

  The collector 37 is formed of a transparent conductive film (film-like transparent conductive member) such as a rectangular film-like ITO film as in the first embodiment, and is formed on the surface of the substrate 43 made of a transparent material such as glass by a sputtering method or the like. The film is formed by a technique such as electron beam evaporation.

  In this case, the surface 37a on the substrate 43 side of the both surfaces 37a and 37b in the thickness direction of the collector 37 is the light incident surface, and the surface 37b on the opposite side is the light emitting surface. Then, the end surface 33a is closed with the collector 37 interposed between the substrate 43 and the end surface 33a opposite to the end surface 33b on the emitter 35 side of the annular member 33. The collector 37 is hermetically bonded together with the substrate 43 by an adhesive (not shown) (for example, glass frit, epoxy resin, ceramic adhesive, etc.). Since the collector 37 is joined to the end surface 33a of the annular member 33 in this way, a part of the emission surface 37b of the collector 37 that faces each slit 35c of the emitter 35 passes through the slit 35c. 37 is exposed to the electrode surface 37a side.

  In this embodiment, the area of the substrate 43 and the collector 37 viewed in the axial direction of the annular member 33 is larger than the outer area of the annular member 33, and one side of the collector 37 is It protrudes to the side. In this case, in the present embodiment, the projecting portion of the collector 37 with respect to the annular member 33 and the projecting portion of the emitter 35 project in opposite directions, and these projecting portions do not face each other in the axial direction of the annular member 33. It is like that.

  Supplementally, the shape of the collector 37 and the substrate 43 is not limited to a square shape, and may be, for example, a circular shape. Further, a plurality of peripheral portions of the collector 37 may be extended to the side of the annular member 33. Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, the collector 11 may be made of a transparent conductive member other than the ITO film (for example, zinc oxide added with aluminum oxide or gallium oxide).

  In the electromotive force generating unit 31 of the present embodiment, the collector 37 and the emitter 35 are joined to the both end faces 33a and 33b of the annular member 33 as described above, and therefore the annular member 33 is disposed inside the annular member 33. A sealed space 45 defined by the inner peripheral surface of the light source, the emission surface 37b of the collector 37 and the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 is formed. The incident surface 35 a of the emitter 35 faces the collector 37 in parallel with the sealed space 45. In this case, the sealed space 45 is a vacuum sealed space. The degree of vacuum of the sealed space 45 is, for example, about 100 Pa. Such a vacuum sealed space 45 is formed, for example, by joining the emitter 35 or the collector 37 to the annular member 33 and sealing the inside of the annular member 33 in a vacuum environment. be able to.

  In addition, it is preferable that the constituent materials of the annular member 33, the emitter 35, and the substrate 43 are materials having close thermal expansion coefficient values in order to prevent the occurrence of cracks at the joint portions.

  The above is the detailed structure of the electromotive force generating unit 31 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the outer dimension of the entire electromotive force generation unit 31 as viewed in the thickness direction is, for example, 30 mm × 32 mm.

  In the photoelectric conversion device of the present embodiment, the electromotive force generation unit 31 is provided instead of the electromotive force generation unit 5 of FIG. 1 so that the substrate 43 of the electromotive force generation unit 31 faces the optical lens 3. The electromotive force generator 31 is disposed in

  Then, the electromotive force generating unit 31 has an electron between the electrical load 23 and the collector 37 and the electrode member 39, which is a supply target of the electromotive force generated between the emitter 35 and the collector 37, as shown in FIG. It is connected to a DC power supply 25 that applies a voltage for acceleration.

  More specifically, the protruding portion of the collector 37 that protrudes to the side of the annular member 33 and the protruding portion that protrudes to the side of the annular member 33 of the emitter 35 are connected to each other via a lead wire, a circuit board, or the like. To the electrical load 23. Further, the projecting portion of the collector 37 is connected to the positive electrode of the DC power source 25 via a conductor or a circuit board, and the surface 39b opposite to the electrode surface 39a of the electrode member 39 is connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source 25. It is connected via a circuit board or the like.

  The optical lens 3, the electrical load 23, and the DC power supply 25 may be the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, similarly to the case where the plurality of conductive members 21 are electrically connected to each other in the first embodiment, a plurality of peripheral portions of the collector 37 may be electrically connected (short-circuited) to each other by a conducting wire or the like.

  Next, the power generation operation of the photoelectric conversion device of this embodiment will be described.

  In a state where a DC voltage is applied between the DC power source 25 between the collector 37 and the electrode member 39, sunlight condensed by the optical lens 3 enters the collector 37, which is a transparent conductive film, through the substrate 43. The light is transmitted from the surface 37a to the emission surface 37b and is emitted from the emission surface 37b. The sunlight enters the incident surface 35 a of the emitter 35. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 generates a photoelectric effect while being heated by the sunlight collected in the vicinity thereof, and electrons enter the sealed space 45 from the incident surface 35a. Is released.

  In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, an electric field is formed between the collector 37 and the electrode member 39 by a DC voltage applied between the collector 37 and the electrode member 39. Then, by this electric field, electrons emitted from the incident surface 9 a of the emitter 9 are accelerated toward the collector 37. Therefore, most of the electrons emitted from the incident surface 35 a of the emitter 35 into the sealed space 45 move toward the collector 37 and are captured by the collector 37.

  As a result, as in the first embodiment, the emitter 35 has a positive potential with respect to the collector 37, and an electromotive force is generated between the emitter 35 and the collector 37. This electromotive force is supplied to the electric load 23.

  As in the first embodiment, the electric field strength between the collector 37 and the electrode member 39 is larger than the electric field strength due to the electromotive force generated between the emitter 35 and the collector 37. The voltage of the DC power supply 25 is set.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the size of the optical lens 3 (Fresnel lens) is adjusted so that the temperature of the emitter 35 is in a range of about 200 to 700 ° C. (for example, about 500 ° C.), A distance between the optical lens 3 and the electromotive force generating unit 31 is set.

  Also in the present embodiment, the distance between the emitter 35 and the collector 37 can be reduced, and a DC voltage is applied between the collector 37 and the electrode member 39 so that electrons emitted from the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 are collected by the collector 37. Therefore, the electrons emitted from the incident surface 35a of the emitter 35 can be efficiently captured by the collector 39. In addition, the emitter 35 can be efficiently heated to a temperature that is not so high by sunlight to actively generate a photoelectric effect, and the amount of electron emission due to the photoelectric effect can be increased.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently convert light energy of sunlight into electric energy while reducing energy loss, and it is possible to increase the power generation efficiency of the photoelectric conversion device.
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electromotive force generating portion of the photoelectric conversion device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. The photoelectric conversion device according to the present embodiment includes an electromotive force generation unit that is different from the electromotive force generation unit 31 of the second embodiment only in a part of the configuration. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion device is the same as the second embodiment. The same reference numerals as those in the second embodiment are used to omit the description.

  6 and 7, the electromotive force generation unit 31 ′ of the photoelectric conversion device of the present embodiment is an insulating member locally disposed inside the sealed space 45 (inside the annular member 33). A plurality of emitter-collector auxiliary members 47 are provided. Each emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 is formed in a cylindrical shape in this embodiment, and its height (thickness) is the same as the thickness of the annular member 33. Each emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 is disposed at a position not facing the slit 35 c of the emitter 35. Each emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 has an end face on the emitter 35 side and an end face on the collector 39 side joined to the emitter 35 and the collector 39, respectively. The constituent material of the emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 is the same as that of the annular member 33 (for example, silicon oxide). However, the constituent material of the emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 may be an insulating material different from that of the annular member 33.

  The configuration other than that described above is the same as that of the second embodiment. The shape of the emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a quadrangular prism, a triangular prism, or the like. Alternatively, for example, it may have a shape extending in the same direction as the slit 35 c of the emitter 35, and may be integrally connected to the annular member 33.

  Also in the photoelectric conversion device of this embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be obtained. Further, in this embodiment, since the emitter-collector auxiliary member 47 interposed between the emitter 35 and the collector 37 is provided in the vacuum sealed space 45, the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the sealed space 45 is provided. Therefore, the emitter 35, the emitter-electrode member 41 and the electrode member 39 integrated with the emitter 35, and the substrate 43 are prevented from being bent and the distance between the emitter 35 and the collector 37 is stably maintained. can do. As a result, the emitter 35 and the collector 37 are brought into contact (short circuit) due to the deflection of the emitter 35 and the emitter-electrode member 41 and electrode member 39 integrated with the emitter 35 or the substrate 13. This can prevent anything. As a result, the distance between the emitter 35 and the collector 37 can be further narrowed, and the electrons emitted from the emitter 35 can be captured by the collector 37 more efficiently.

  In each embodiment described above, sunlight is used as the light applied to the emitters 9 and 35, but artificial light source light may be used.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the photoelectric conversion apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electromotive force generation part of the photoelectric conversion apparatus of 1st Embodiment. II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electromotive force generation part of the photoelectric conversion apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electromotive force generation part of the photoelectric conversion apparatus of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoelectric conversion apparatus, 3 ... Optical lens (condensing means), 7 ... Vacuum container, 9, 35 ... Emitter, 9c, 35c ... Slit (through-hole), 11, 37 ... Collector, 13, 39 ... Electrode member, 15, 41 ... Emitter-electrode members, 33 ... Ring members, 47 ... Emitter-collector auxiliary members.

Claims (8)

An emitter having a light incident surface and capable of emitting electrons by a photoelectric effect on the light incident surface; and a collector for capturing electrons emitted from the light incident surface of the emitter. A photoelectric conversion device that outputs the generated electromotive force,
The collector is composed of a transparent conductive member having a light incident surface and a light exit surface, and a conductive electrode member having an electrode surface facing the light exit surface with a space from the light exit surface of the collector. Provided in an insulated state from the collector;
The emitter is insulated from the collector and the electrode member between the emission surface of the collector and the electrode surface of the electrode member, and the incident surface of the emitter is spaced from the emission surface of the collector. Arranged so as to face the emission surface, and formed so that a plurality of local areas of the emission surface of the collector are exposed to the electrode surface side in the interval direction between the emission surface of the collector and the electrode surface of the electrode member And
Light is applied to the incident surface of the emitter through the collector from the incident surface side of the collector in a state where a voltage at which the collector has a positive potential with respect to the electrode member is applied between the collector and the electrode member. Thus, a photoelectric effect is generated on the incident surface of the emitter while heating the emitter.   2. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is provided with a plurality of through holes penetrating in a distance direction between an emission surface of the collector and an electrode surface of the electrode member. apparatus.   3. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is fixed to the electrode member via an emitter-electrode member which is an insulating member interposed between the electrode member and the electrode surface. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by that.   4. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising: a vacuum vessel that houses at least the emitter and the collector among the emitter, the collector, and the electrode member, and the vacuum vessel includes at least the vacuum vessel. The photoelectric conversion device characterized in that a portion facing the incident surface of the collector is configured to be transparent.   The photoelectric conversion device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising an annular member that is an insulating member formed in an annular shape, and an exit surface of the collector on each end face in the axial direction of the annular member. The entrance surface of the emitter is joined, and a vacuum sealed space defined by the inner peripheral surface of the annular member, the entrance surface of the emitter, and the exit surface of the collector is formed inside the annular member. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by the above.   6. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 5, further comprising an emitter-collector auxiliary member that is an insulating member locally disposed in the sealed space, wherein the emitter-collector auxiliary member in the axial direction of the annular member. Both end faces are joined to the exit face of the collector and the entrance face of the emitter, respectively.   The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising a condensing unit that condenses sunlight and enters the incident surface of the connector.   8. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 7, wherein the light condensing means is constituted by a Fresnel lens.

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