| abstract |
A photovoltaic cell of high efficiency may be obtained using metallic nanoparticles or nanostructures as the main light absorbing element in the photosensitive layer of the cell, which absorb the light through a surface plasmon or polaron mechanism. The cell comprises at least one photosensitive layer containing nanoparticles or nanostructures each between a n-doped and a p-doped charge transport layer, characterized in that • the nanoparticles or nanostructures are the main light absorbing element in the photosensitive layer, • the nanoparticles or nanostructures have metallic conductivity and absorb near infrared, visible and/or ultraviolet light through a surface plasmon or polaron mechanism, and • the nanoparticles or nanostructures have at least one of their dimensions of size between 0.1 and 500 nm. By exploiting the combination of electronic and size parameters, intense optical absorption at any wavelength within the solar spectrum (about 2500 and 300 nm) can be obtained and the whole range of the solar spectrum may be used. |