Nanoscale solar cell with vertical and lateral junctions

摘要

A nanoscale solar cell with vertical and lateral p-n junctions or Schottky barriers includes a light transparent or an opaque substrate with n- and p-type materials thereon. The size of the materials is tailored to optimize their bandgap energies. During use, photons impact the n and p type materials and generated electrons and holes travel through the materials to reach the vertical and horizontal junctions with reduced or neglible recombination loss, and thence to their respective electrodes. Representatively, the n-type material is CdS while the p-type material is CIS. Both are arranged in layers and thicknesses can vary. Fabrication includes forming an alumina template and filling voids with the materials to form n-p junctions. Thereafter, the template is removed and further junctions are formed by filling spaces left by the removed template. Organic semiconductor embodiments of the invention are also contemplated.