초록 ▼

A bulk process is described which is capable of producing large area sheets about 8 micrometers thick having the property of light/electric power conversion at extremely high production rates (many m2/s) at low cost ($1/m2). The devices have an inherently high efficiency of 60-80% when laminated in

A bulk process is described which is capable of producing large area sheets about 8 micrometers thick having the property of light/electric power conversion at extremely high production rates (many m2/s) at low cost ($1/m2). The devices have an inherently high efficiency of 60-80% when laminated in an assembly to utilize both resolved light vectors. A light/electric power converter is described comprising a sheet containing oriented dipolar conducting linear structures forming an antennae array capable of asbsorbing light photons and producing a unidirectional electric current. These linear structures constitute submicron antennae and femto diode circuit elements. The individual antenna-circuit elements are self-ordered into the linear structure using a bulk process. The process utilizes (1) electroordering a suspension of elongated submicron metal crystals; or (2) molecules capable of absorbing a light photon and converting its energy to electric energy; or (3) visco-elastically stretch-orienting a light-electric responsive preformed heteropolymer. These submicron linear structures comprise a plurality of quantum well-steps, each with an assymetric tunnel junction at one end, in ordered three dimensional arrays. The manufacture uses a simple low cost bulk process and does not employ the submicron facility needed for the earlier planular process.

대표청구항 ▼

A light/electric power converter comprising a sheet-like volume, a plurality of elongated light-absorbing electrically-conducting particles in said sheet, said elongated particles being linearly arranged along an axis in strings; said light energy being converted to energetic electrons in said strin

A light/electric power converter comprising a sheet-like volume, a plurality of elongated light-absorbing electrically-conducting particles in said sheet, said elongated particles being linearly arranged along an axis in strings; said light energy being converted to energetic electrons in said strings, asymmetric junctions interspersed and connected to said particles in said strings, said asymmetric junctions passing said electrons in only one direction along said conducting strings; said strings being substantially parallel, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to a first terminal and a second terminal respectively; said particle strings being normal to and between said first and second electrodes, a load, said load being connected between said first and second terminals, whereby light power is converted in said sheet to electric power and delivered to said load.