In blended hybrid systems distinct microor nanostructured materials can be formed by phase separation. Network structures of particles or rods in a polymer matrix can be developed via self-assembly. We use this blending approach to compare active materials for application in solar cell devices. Blends were fabricated from either poly(hexylthiophene) P3HT or poly(triphenylamine) PTPA mixed with ...

The energy market has destabilized with the increased economic development of emerging countries, owing to higher global energy demands and an increase in the cost of fossil fuels[1]. In addition, the seriousness of global environmental issues, such as the emission of greenhouse gases and the frequency of abnormal weather, has grown increasingly severe[2]. To resolve these issues, solar photovo...

An architecture in which nand p-type materials alternate laterally in the active ®lm of a device with a spatial period of about a carrier di€usion length would lead to ecient (opto)electronic devices for photovoltaic energy conversion and switching, among others. Such an architecture, although dicult to achieve with conventional silicon-based schemes, is within reach using semiconductor nanoc...

We compute the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) in BiFeO(3) using first-principles shift current theory, finding good agreement with experimental results. Furthermore, we reconcile apparently contradictory observations: by examining the contributions of all photovoltaic response tensor components and accounting for the geometry and ferroelectric domain structure of the experimental system, we ex...

In any microelectronic device, fundamental physical parameters must be well understood for successful electronic optimization. One such prominent parameter is energetic trap states, which are well-known to plague amorphous or otherwise impure semiconducting materials. Organic semiconductors are no strangers to such states and their electronic properties are evidently tied to these defects. Here...

Solar power presents the opportunity for a revolution in worldwide energy generation. However, photovoltaics have yet to be the source of more than 0.1% of the energy generated worldwide. Our research is centered on developing technologies aimed at decreasing the cost/power output of III-V group photovoltaic cells. III-V photovoltaic devices consistently rank as some of the highest in efficienc...

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) have attracted great attention in recent years because of their advantages of easy fabrication, low cost, light weight, and potential for flexible devices. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs needs to be improved for future commercial applications. Factors limiting the PCE of the PSCs include the low exploitation of sunlight due to the narrow ab...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Establish the surgical procedure for subretinal implantation of multiple photovoltaic arrays for the restoration of sight. MATERIALS AND METHODS Multiple silicon photovoltaic arrays of 1 mm in diameter and 30 µm in thickness were implanted subretinally via single retinotomy in rabbits. Ophthalmoscopic imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used to validat...

Hybrid thin film solar cell based on all-inorganic nanoparticles is a new member in the family of photovoltaic devices. In this work, a novel and performance-efficient inorganic hybrid nanostructure with continuous charge transportation and collection channels is demonstrated by introducing CdTe nanotetropods (NTs) and CdSe quantum dots (QDs). Hybrid morphology is characterized, demonstrating a...

High-performance photovoltaic cells use semiconductors to convert sunlight into clean electrical power, and transparent dielectrics or conductive oxides as antireflection coatings. A common feature of these materials is their high refractive index. Whereas high-index materials in a planar form tend to produce a strong, undesired reflection of sunlight, high-index nanostructures afford new ways ...