Combining Photosynthesis and Photovoltaics: A Hybrid Energy-Harvesting System Using Optical Antennas.

A hybrid energy-harvesting system is proposed that combines photosynthesis and photovoltaics. First, the light passes through a spectrally selective solar cell, which absorbs almost all green light but absorbs almost no blue and red light. The blue and red light are absorbed by a photosynthesis executing plant.

Zinc oxide nanowire arrays for silicon core/shell solar cells.

The optics of core / shell nanowire solar cells was investigated. The optical wave propagation was studied by finite difference time domain simulations using realistic interface morphologies. The interface morphologies were determined by a 3D surface coverage algorithm, which provides a realistic film formation of amorphous silicon films on zinc oxide nanowire arrays.