Patent ID: 8309843

Claim:
A photovoltaic cell comprising: i. a first electrode wherein, the first electrode is substantially flat; ii. a layer of electronic material disposed on the first electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode, wherein the layer of electronic material is a continuous layer; iii. a plurality of nanometer-scale wires extending into the layer of electronic material such that, space between the plurality of the nanometer-scale wires is substantially filled with the layer of electronic material; and iv. a second electrode electrically connected to the plurality of the nanometer-scale wires, wherein, said second electrode is not in electrical contact with the first electrode and the layer of electronic material, wherein junctions providing built-in electric field are formed at interfaces between the nanometer-scale wires and the layer of electronic material surrounding the nanometer-scale wires, and wherein said junctions are ones selected from a group consisting of p-n junctions and Schottky junctions.