PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES FABRICATED BY GROWTH FROM POROUS TEMPLATE
First Claim
1. A solar cell device, comprising two or more materials having different electron affinities, the solar cell device being characterized by an architecture wherein the two materials are regularly arrayed and wherein the presence of the two or more materials alternates within distances of between about 1 nm and about 100 nm, wherein the two materials are present in a matrix having a porous template with an array of template pores, wherein the porous template has been made by anodizing a layer of metal, wherein one of the materials in the matrix is an organic material that can absorb light in the bulk of the organic material;
- and wherein the two or more materials are disposed between a base electrode and a transparent conducting electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Photovoltaic devices, such as solar cells, and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. A device may be characterized by an architecture where two more materials having different electron affinities are regularly arrayed such that their presence alternates within distances of between about 1 nm and about 100 nm. The materials are present in a matrix based on a porous template with an array of template pores. The porous template is formed by anodizing a layer of metal. A photovoltaic device may include such a porous template disposed between a base electrode and a transparent conducting electrode. A first charge-transfer material fills the template pores, A second (complementary) charge-transfer material fills additional space not occupied by the first charge-transfer material.
239 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A solar cell device, comprising two or more materials having different electron affinities, the solar cell device being characterized by an architecture
wherein the two materials are regularly arrayed and wherein the presence of the two or more materials alternates within distances of between about 1 nm and about 100 nm, wherein the two materials are present in a matrix having a porous template with an array of template pores, wherein the porous template has been made by anodizing a layer of metal, wherein one of the materials in the matrix is an organic material that can absorb light in the bulk of the organic material; - and
wherein the two or more materials are disposed between a base electrode and a transparent conducting electrode.
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2. A photovoltaic device, comprising:
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a porous template of anodized metal having an array of template pores;
a first charge-transfer material that substantially fills the template pores, a second charge transfer material that fills additional space not occupied by the first charge-transfer material, wherein the first charge-transfer material has complementary charge-transfer characteristics with respect to the porous template;
a base electrode; and
a transparent conducting electrode (TCE), wherein the first and second charge-transfer materials are disposed between the base electrode and the TCE. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for making a photovoltaic device, comprising:
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anodizing a layer of metal to form a porous template having an array of template pores;
filling the template pores with a first charge-transfer material that is complementary to the porous template. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 56, 57, 58, 60)
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46. A method for making a photovoltaic device, comprising:
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anodizing a layer of metal to form a porous template having an array of template pores;
filling the template pores with a first charge-transfer material; and
filling additional space not occupied by the first charge-transfer material with a second charge-transfer material that is complementary to the first charge-transfer material, wherein filling the template pores with a first charge-transfer material includes;
partly filling one or more of the template pores with the first charge-transfer material to form one or more tubules wherein the additional space is a tubule pore in each tubule. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for making a photovoltaic device, comprising:
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anodizing a layer of metal to form a porous template having an array of template pores;
filling the template pores with a first charge-transfer material; and
filling additional space not occupied by the first charge-transfer material with a second charge-transfer material that is complementary to the first charge-transfer material, wherein filling the template pores with a first charge-transfer material includes completely filling the pores with the first charge-transfer material and removing the porous template leaving behind structures of the first charge-transfer material with spaces between the structures. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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59. (canceled)
Specification