Patent ID: 8866007
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: B82Y,G02B,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A surface plasmon polariton photovoltaic absorber, comprising: a substrate; a first absorber layer on the substrate; a second absorber layer on the first absorber layer, the second absorber layer having a larger bandgap than the first absorber layer and comprising quantum dots or wires comprising BaSi a third absorber layer on the second absorber layer, the third absorber layer having a larger bandgap than the second absorber layer; a layer of conductive material comprising a surface plasmon polariton guiding layer comprising metallic nanoparticles comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, and aluminum on the third absorber layer; and at least two electrodes, a first electrode in electrical communication with a first charge collection region of the photovoltaic absorber in which electrical charges of a first polarity are concentrated, and a second electrode in electrical communication with a second charge collection region of the photovoltaic absorber in which electrical charges of a second polarity are concentrated, wherein the surface plasmon polariton photovoltaic absorber is configured to generate an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes when the surface plasmon polariton photovoltaic absorber is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation.