Hybrid solar cells based on nanostructured semiconductors and organic materials

US7618838B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Research Foundation of the State University of New York · US

Inventors

• Igor Levitsky · King City, CA
• William B. Euler · Narragansett, US
• Natalya Tokranova · Cohoes, US
• Bai Xu · Albany, US
• James Castracane · Albany, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2006
• Grant date: Nov 17, 2009
• Expiry date: Apr 26, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/549

Abstract

A method for forming a photovoltaic cell which includes forming a nanostructured layer in a semiconductor material having a plurality of pores opening onto a surface, the plurality of pores having a depth greater than about 1 micron and a diameter between about 5 nanometers and about 1,200 nanometers, and disposing an organic charge-transfer material in the pores of the nanostructured layer. A first electrode is attached to the semiconductor material, and a second electrode is attached to the organic charge-transfer material. The semiconductor material has a thickness between about 5 microns and about 700 microns. Desirably, the nanostructured layer has a porosity of less than the porosity corresponding to the percolation threshold, and the organic charge-transfer material extends at least about 100 nm from the surface of the nanostructured layer. The organic charge-transfer material may partially cover the sides of the pores of the nanostructured layer thereby providing a generally cylindrical cavity therein.