Apparatus and Methods for Solar Energy Conversion Using Nanoscale Cometal Structures
First Claim
1. A solar cell comprising:
- a plurality of nanoscale coplanar structures each comprising a photovoltaic layer located between a first electrically conducting layer and a second electrically conducting layer,wherein incident electromagnetic radiation enters the coplanar structure between the first electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer, andwherein transmission of electromagnetic energy inside the coplanar structures is wavelength-independent and happens in transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode.
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Abstract
An apparatus and methods for solar conversion using nanoscale cometal structures are disclosed herein. The cometal structures may be coaxial and coplanar. A nanoscale optics apparatus for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nanoscale cometal structures each including a photovoltaic material located between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. A method of fabricating solar cells comprises preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A solar cell comprising:
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a plurality of nanoscale coplanar structures each comprising a photovoltaic layer located between a first electrically conducting layer and a second electrically conducting layer, wherein incident electromagnetic radiation enters the coplanar structure between the first electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer, and wherein transmission of electromagnetic energy inside the coplanar structures is wavelength-independent and happens in transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A solar cell comprising:
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a plurality of nanoscale multilayer coplanar structures each comprising a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer, and a middle electrically conducting layer therebetween, wherein the first electrically conducting layer and the middle electrically conducting layer are separated from one another by a first photovoltaic layer, and wherein the middle electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer are separated from one another by a second photovoltaic layer, wherein incident electromagnetic radiation enters the multilayer coplanar structure between the first electrically conducting layer and the middle electrically conducting layer and between the middle electrically conducting layer and the second electrically conducting layer, and wherein transmission of electromagnetic energy inside the plurality of nanoscale multilayer coplanar structures is wavelength-independent and happens in transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of fabricating solar cells comprising:
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preparing a plurality of nanoscale planar structures; coating a plurality of planar surfaces of the plurality of planar structures with a photovoltaic semiconductor while leaving space between the plurality of planar surfaces; and coating the photovoltaic semiconductor with an outer electrical conductor layer, wherein a portion of the outer electrical conductor layer is located between the planar structures to form coplanar structures. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification