High-Efficiency Bulk Photovoltaic Effect Devices

A photovoltaic cell comprising:

• a layer of crystalline non-centrosymmetric light-absorbing material, the layer having first and second surfaces;
• and
• a plurality of electrodes each having a tip disposed in an array upon or penetrating into at least one of the surfaces of the light-absorbing material;
• wherein
• each electrode tip is separated from any neighboring electrode tip on or beneath the same at least one surface by a distance in a range of from about 10 nm to about 800 nm;
• the light-absorbing material having one or more interband transitions, including a bandgap, Ec-Ev, in a range of from about 0.1 eV to about 8 eV which, when exposed to at least one wavelength of light in a range of from about 12.4 microns to about 155 nm, is capable of generating a current that consists of electrons at least a fraction of which remain ballistic through their collection at the electrodes.