Patent ID: 8592675

Claim:
A photovoltaic device comprising: a photocell having a first photoactive layer, a second photoactive layer on, and in contact with, the first photoactive layer so as to form a heterojunction between the first photoactive layer and the second photoactive layer, and a transparent electrode on, and in direct contact with, a side of the second photoactive layer opposite the first photoactive layer; and a plurality of either n-type doped or p-type doped high-aspect-ratio nanostructures formed on, and in direct contact with, the side of the second photoactive layer opposite the first photoactive layer, wherein the plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures have a spacing between adjacent nanostructures of between about 100 nanometers and about three micrometers thus being configured to act as a scattering media for incident light, wherein each of the plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures has a length of between about 0.1 micrometers and about 100 micrometers, and wherein the transparent electrode on the second photoactive layer covers only some of the plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures leaving a remainder of the plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures uncovered and surrounding the transparent electrode.