News Article
Schottky Photovoltaics
University of California Santa Barbara scientists (Nature, February 6, 2003) have developed a photovoltaic device based on a Schottky diode structure (metal-semiconductor rather than semiconductor-semiconductor junction).
University of California Santa Barbara scientists (Nature, February 6, 2003) have developed a photovoltaic device based on a Schottky diode structure (metal-semiconductor rather than semiconductor-semiconductor junction).
The device is made on a titanium support with layers of titanium oxide, gold and a dye photoreceptor on top. The light excites electrons in the dye, which are injected into the conduction levels of the gold conductor. From there the electrons enter the TiO2 semiconductor layer and are finally collected at the ohmic titanium contact. The electron preserves its energy from the light creating the photovoltage. The dye consists of merbromin.