Patent · US Expired

Nanostructured materials and photovoltaic devices including nanostructured materials

US7442320B2 · kind B2 · utility

43Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 2005
Grant dateOct 28, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/549
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Nanostructured materials and photovoltaic devices including nanostructured materials are described. In one embodiment, a nanostructured material includes: (a) a first nano-network formed from a first set of nanoparticles; and (b) a second nano-network coupled to the first nano-network and formed from a second set of nanoparticles. At least one of the first set of nanoparticles and the second set of nanoparticles are formed from an indirect bandgap material. The nanostructured material is configured to absorb light to produce a first type of charge carrier that is transported in the first nano-network and a second type of charge carrier that is transported in the second nano-network. The nanostructured material has an absorption coefficient that is at least 103 cm−1 within a range of wavelengths from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.