Nanostructured ZnO electrodes for efficient dye sensitized solar cells
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsAshutosh Tiwari, Michael R. Snure
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
Claims16
A nanostructure comprising a metal oxide structure on a substrate, the structure comprising at least one growth center having a plurality of projections extending radially there from along the surface of the substrate, wherein the projections are oriented parallel to and are in contact with the surface along their lengths;
- the at least one growth center has at least one projection extending radially from the at least one growth center and oriented such that an angle between the surface of the substrate and the longitudinal axis of the at least one projection is greater than zero;
- and at least two projections in the plurality of projections are fused at the growth center and along a portion of their lengths that is less than their full lengths.
An optoelectronic device comprising:
- (a) an active layer comprising a metal oxide nanostructure comprising at least one growth center having a plurality of projections extending radially there from along the surface of the substrate, wherein the projections are oriented parallel to and are in contact with the surface along their lengths, the at least one growth center has at least one projection extending radially from the at least one growth center and oriented such that an angle between the surface of the substrate and the longitudinal axis of the at least one projection is greater than zero;
- and at least two projections in the plurality of projections are fused at the growth center and along a portion of their lengths that is less than their full lengths;
- (b) a first electrode;
- (c) a second electrode;
- and
- (d) a charge transport medium;
- wherein the active layer and the charge transport medium are disposed between the first and second electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.