Patent ID: 6441298
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
A surface-plasmon enhanced photovoltaic device comprising:a first metallic electrode having an array of apertures, the first metallic electrode having an illuminated surface upon which light is incident and an unilluminated surface, at least one of the illuminated and unilluminated surfaces having an enhancement characteristic resulting in a resonant interaction of the incident light with surface plasmons on the surface; a second electrode spaced from the first electrode; and a plurality of spheres corresponding to the array of apertures and disposed between the first metallic and second electrodes, each sphere having a first portion of either p or n-doped material and a second portion having the other of the p or n-doped material such that a p-n junction is formed at a junction between the first and second portions, an individual sphere being disposed in the apertures such that one of the first or second portions is in electrical contact with the first metallic electrode and the other of the first or second portions is in electrical contact with the second electrode.