APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION USING NANOCOAX STRUCTURES

摘要

An apparatus and method for solar conversion using nanocoax structures are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus (100) for use as a solar cell comprises a plurality of nano-coaxial structures comprising an internal conductor (120) surrounded by a semiconducting material (180) coated with an outer conductor (160); a film (140) having the plurality of nano-coaxial structures; and a protruding portion (110) of the an internal conductor (120) extending beyond a surface of the film (140). A method of fabricating a solar cell comprises coating a substrate (190) with a catalytic material; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes (120) as internal cores of nanocoax units on the substrate (190); oxidizing the substrate (190); coating with a semiconducting film (180); and filling with a metallic medium(160) that wets the semiconducting film (180) of the nanocoax units.