Patent ID: 8518526

Claim:
An article comprising a substrate having a surface, and a biaxially-textured nanofence supported by said surface, said nanofence comprising a multiplicity of primary nanorods and branch nanorods, each of said primary nanorods being attached to said substrate, each of said branch nanorods being attached to at least one other of said primary nanorods and said branch nanorods, said primary nanorods and said branch nanorods being arranged in a three-dimensional, interconnected, interpenetrating, grid-like network defining interstices within said nanofence, said article further comprising an enveloping layer supported by said nanofence, said enveloping layer disposed in said interstices and forming a coating on said primary nanorods and said branch nanorods, said enveloping layer having a different composition from that of said nanofence, said enveloping layer comprising at least one photovoltaic material selected from the group consisting of a radial p-n single junction solar cell material and a radial p-n multiple junction solar cell material.