Patent ID: 7645933
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: B82Y,H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) an insulating support having opposed front and rear surfaces; (b) a first contact extending along the front surface and supported thereby, the first contact comprising a first electrically conductive contact material; (c) a second contact extending along the front surface and supported thereby, the second contact comprising a second electrically conductive contact material wherein the first and second contacts are spaced apart along the front surface to be bridgeable by a single nanotube; (d) a plurality of photoconductive carbon nanotubes lying along the front surface aligned in a plane of the front surface, each nanotube bridging between the first contact comprising a first electrically conductive contact material and the second contact comprising a second electrically conductive contact material, the carbon nanotubes configured to receive light directed at the front surface along a path substantially normal to the front surface; wherein the carbon nanotubes directly contact the contacts; wherein the work function of the first electrically conductive contact material differs from the work function of the carbon nanotubes, further wherein the junctions between the first electrically conductive material and the carbon nanotubes form Schottky barriers for electrons or holes; and whereby light illuminating the photovoltaic cell produces an electrical voltage across the first and second contacts.