A nanowire includes an electrically conductive catalyst nanoparticle first portion, a semiconductor wire second portion, a first dielectric shell around the first portion, and a second dielectric shell or functionalization around the second portion. A material of the second dielectric shell or functionalization is different from a material of the first shell.

The present invention generally relates to nanoscale wires and, in particular, to nanoscale wires with heterojunctions, such as tip-localized homo- or heterojunctions. In one aspect, the nanoscale wire may include a core, an inner shell surrounding the core, and an outer shell surrounding the inner shell. The outer shell may also contact the core, e.g., at an end portion of the nanoscale wire. In some cases, such nanoscale wires may be used as electrical devices. For example a p-n junction may be created where the inner shell is electrically insulating, and the core and the outer shell are p-doped and n-doped. Other aspects of the present invention generally relate to methods of making or using such nanoscale wires, devices, or kits including such nanoscale wires, or the like.

The electronic device comprises a substrate (1), at least one semiconductor wire element (2) formed by a nitride of a group III material and an electroconductive layer (3) interposed between the substrate (1) and said at least one semiconductor wire element (2). Said at least one semiconductor wire element (2) extends from said electroconductive layer (3), and the electroconductive layer (3) comprises a carbide of zirconium or a carbide of hafnium.

An apparatus and method for producing a perpetual energy harvester which harvests ambient near ultraviolet to infrared radiation and provides continual power regardless of the environment. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a semiconductor thermal harvester, providing a continuous source of power. Additionally, increased power output is provided through a solar harvester. The solar and thermal harvesters are physically connected but electrically isolated.

A method for forming an organic thin film solar battery includes steps of: providing a substrate and an evaporating source; forming a first electrode on a surface of the substrate; spacing the evaporating source from the first electrode, and heating the carbon nanotube film structure to gasify the photoactive material and form a photoactive layer on a surface of the first electrode; and forming a second electrode on a surface of the photoactive layer.

A structural body that includes a film that has a phase-separated nanostructure where a separate columnar shape phase is dispersed in a matrix phase that are phase-separated in a state of thermal equilibrium. The matrix phase is formed from any one of a p-type semiconductor material and an n-type semiconductor material, and the separate columnar shape phase is formed from the other semiconductor material. The film is formed on a substrate such that the separate columnar shaped phase and the matrix phase have three-dimensional junction planes.

A composition of matter comprising: a graphitic substrate optionally carried on a support, a seed layer having a thickness of no more than 50 nm deposited directly on top of said substrate, opposite any support; and an oxide or nitride masking layer e directly on top of said seed layer; wherein a plurality of holes are present through said seed layer and through said masking layer to C said graphitic substrate; and wherein a plurality of nanowires or nanopyramids are grown from said substrate in said holes, said nanowres or nanopyramids comprising at least one semiconducting group III-V compound.

A retinal prosthesis system can comprise: a flexible substrate; a nanowire light detector which is placed on the substrate, and comprises one or more nanowires of which the resistance changes according to the applied light; one or more micro-electrodes which are placed on the substrate, are electrically connected to the nanowire light detector, and come in contact with retinal cells; and an electric power supply source for applying electric power to the nanowire light detector and the micro-electrodes. The retinal prosthesis system can be implemented into a very thin and flexible substrate type high resolution retinal system by manufacturing a nanowire light detector on a substrate in which micro-electrodes are implemented.

A composition of matter, in particular a photovoltaic cell, comprising: at least one core semiconductor nanowire on a graphitic substrate, said at least one core nanowire having been grown epitaxially on said substrate wherein said nanowire comprises at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element; a semiconductor shell surrounding said core nanowire, said shell comprising at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element such that said core nanowire and said shell form a n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor respectively or vice versa; and an outer conducting coating surrounding said shell which forms an electrode contact.

Quantum dragon materials and devices have unit (total) transmission of electrons for a wide range of electron energies, even though the electrons do not undergo ballistic propagation, when connected optimally to at least two external leads. Quantum dragon materials and devices enable embodiments as quantum dragon electronic or optoelectronic devices, including field effect transistors (FETs), sensors, injectors for spin-polarized currents, wires having integral multiples of the conductance quantum, and wires with zero electrical resistance. Methods of devising such quantum dragon materials and devices are also disclosed.