An electrode according to the present invention includes a substrate, and a conductive layer containing carbon particles or platinum particles and a conductive binder for binding the carbon particles or platinum particles formed above the substrate. By binding the carbon particles or the platinum particles with the conductive binder, it is possible to form an electrode with a porous structure where spaces that communicate with a surface of the conductive layer are defined between the corresponding carbon particles or platinum particles, thereby increasing the effective area (surface area) of the electrode. The photoelectric conversion elements and the dye-sensitized photovoltaic or solar cells according to the present invention can be manufactured at a low cost and have an increased effective area, making it possible to obtain excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency.