Solid-state photoelectric device
AssigneeThe Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
InventorJoshua S. Salafsky
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Abstract
A solid state photovoltaic device is formed on a substrate and includes a photoactive channel layer interposed between a pair of electrodes. The photoactive channel layer includes a first material which absorbs light and operates as a hole carrier. Within the first material are nanoparticles of a second material which operate as electron carriers. The nanoparticles are distributed within the photoactive channel layer such that, predominantly, the charge path between the two electrodes at any given location includes only a single nanocrystal. Because a majority of electrons are channeled to the electrodes via single nanocrystal conductive paths, the resulting architecture is referred to as a channel architecture.
Claims24
A photoelectric device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first electrode formed on said substrate;
- a photoactive channel layer, said photoactive channel layer includes a hole carrying material with semiconductor particulate material including nanoparticles having an average diameter therein, said hole carrying material having a thickness in the range of one to two times the average diameter of the nanoparticles;
- and
- a second electrode;
- said photoactive channel layer being interposed between said first and second electrodes.
A photoelectric device comprising
- a substrate;
- a first electrode formed on said substrate;
- a first photoactive channel layer;
- a second electrode, said first photoactive channel layer being interposed between said first and second electrodes;
- an electrical insulating layer, said insulating layer being formed on said second electrode;
- a third electrode disposed over said insulating layer;
- a second photoactive channel layer;
- and
- a fourth electrode, said second photoactive channel layer being interposed between said third and fourth electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.