Patent ID: 8860078

Claim:
An electronic or electro-optic device, comprising: a p-type semiconductor layer; an n-type semiconductor layer having a region of contact with said p-type semiconductor layer to provide a p-n junction; a first electrical lead in electrical connection with said p-type semiconductor layer; and a second electrical lead in electrical connection with said n-type semiconductor layer, wherein at least one of said p-type and n-type semiconductor layers comprises a doped topological-insulator material having an electrically conducting surface, wherein one of said first and second electrical leads is electrically connected to said electrically conducting surface of said topological-insulator material, and wherein said p-type and n-type semiconductor layers are photo-active materials and at least a portion of said electrically conducting surface of said topological-insulator material provides an electrode-less surface for at least one of receiving or transmitting light at an operating wavelength of said electronic or electro-optic device.