Method and structure for thin film photovoltaic materials using bulk semiconductor materials

A photovoltaic device comprising:

• an electron collecting electrode;
• a hole collecting electrode overlying the electron collecting electrode;
• an electron transporting/hole blocking material is positioned between the electron collecting electrode and the hole collecting electrode, wherein the electron transporting/hole blocking material comprises:
• a first structured material disposed over the first electrode, the first structured material having a planar first surface and an opposing second surface;
• and
• a second structured material disposed directly over the first structured material;
• a third structural material disposed directly over the second structured material, the third structural material having a planar third surface and an opposing fourth surface;
• wherein the first structured material is disposed such that the planar first surface of the first structured material is in direct contact with an upper surface of the electron collecting electrode along the entire upper surface;
• wherein the planar third surface of the third structured material is in direct contact with the hole collecting electrode along an entire lower surface of the hole collecting electrode.

A method for forming a photovoltaic composite material comprising:

• providing a substrate having a surface region;
• forming a first electrode overlying the surface region;
• forming a layer of a first material comprising a plurality of first nanoparticles over the first electrode;
• subjecting the first material to a first temperature for a predetermined time;
• depositing a layer of a second material including a plurality of second nanoparticles over the first material such that the second nanoparticles substantially fill the interstitial space between two adjacent first nanoparticles forming a composite nanostructure;
• and
• forming a second electrode over the composite nanostructure.

A method for forming a photovoltaic composite material, the method comprising:

• providing a transparent substrate member, the substrate member comprising a surface region;
• forming a first electrode member overlying the surface region;
• providing a colloidal suspension including a first plurality of nanoparticles of a first material, a second plurality of nanoparticles of a second material, and a third plurality of nanoparticles of a third material;
• forming a layer of a nano-composite material over the first electrode using the colloidal suspension;
• and
• forming a second electrode overlying the second structured material.

A method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• forming a first electrode in overlying the substrate;
• forming a first layer including nanostructures extending in a vertical orientation from a surface of the first electrode to a first distance;
• depositing a second layer of a material substantially filling the voids between the nanostructures, wherein the second layer is characterized by a thickness greater than the first distance;
• subjecting the second layer to a first pressure to form a composite structure including the nanostructures and the material;
• and
• forming a second electrode over the composite structure.