Abstract: Thin substrate photovoltaic and methods for making them are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a photovoltaic device may include a substrate comprising a semiconductor material, one or more core structures, each extending essentially perpendicularly from a first surface of the substrate such that the core structures and the substrate form a single crystal, a shell layer disposed at least on a portion of a sidewall of the core structures and on the first surface, and a conductive layer disposed between adjacent core structures. The conductive layer forms an ohmic contact with the shell layer disposed on the first surface and between the adjacent core structures.

Abstract: Photodetector devices and methods for making the photodetector devices are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the device may include a substrate; and one or more core structures, each having one or more shell layers disposed at least on a portion of a sidewall of the core structure. Each of the one or more structures extends substantially perpendicularly from the substrate. Each of the one or more core structures and the one or more shell layers form a Schottky barrier junction or a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MiS) junction.

Abstract: Described herein is a device comprising: a substrate; one or more of a nanostructure extending essentially perpendicularly from the substrate; wherein the nanostructure comprises a core of a doped semiconductor, an first layer disposed on the core, and a second layer of an opposite type from the core and disposed on the first layer.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a device comprising a substrate having a front side and a back-side, a nanowire disposed on the back-side and an image sensing circuit disposed on the front side, wherein the nanowire is configured to be both a channel to transmit wavelengths up to a selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the nanowire.

Abstract: Described herein is device configured to be a solar-blind UV detector comprising a substrate; a plurality of pixels; a plurality of nanowires in each of the plurality of pixel, wherein the plurality of nanowires extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate.

Abstract: An optical apparatus, including an optical filter comprising an array of nanowires oriented perpendicular to a light incidence surface of the filter, wherein the optical filter transmits light at a first wavelength that is incident on the incidence surface, wherein the first wavelength is based on a cross-sectional shape of the nanowires. The nanowires are created using a single lithography step. An imaging device and a method of fabricating the same, the device including an array of nanowires formed on a substrate, wherein at least one nanowire in the array of nanowires includes a photoelectric element to produce a photocurrent based, at least in part, on incident photons absorbed by the at least one nanowire.

Abstract: Described herein is a device comprising: a substrate; one or more of a nanostructure extending essentially perpendicularly from the substrate; wherein the nanostructure comprises a core of a doped semiconductor, an first layer disposed on the core, and a second layer of an opposite type from the core and disposed on the first layer.

Abstract: Described herein is device configured to be a solar-blind UV detector comprising a substrate; a plurality of pixels; a plurality of nanowires in each of the plurality of pixel, wherein the plurality of nanowires extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate.

Abstract: A device operable to convert light to electricity, comprising: a substrate comprising a semiconductor material, one or more structures essentially perpendicular to the substrate, one or more layers conformally disposed on the one or more structures wherein the one or more structures and the one or more layers form one or more junctions, and an electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate in the area between the one or more structures.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing a device comprising a substrate having a front side and a back-side, a nanowire disposed on the back-side and an image sensing circuit disposed on the front side, wherein the nanowire is configured to be both a channel to transmit wavelengths up to a selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the nanowire.

Abstract: Color filter array devices and methods of making color filter array devices are disclosed herein. A color filter array may include a substrate having a plurality of pixels thereon, one or more nanowires associated with each of the plurality of pixels, wherein each of the one or more nanowires extends substantially perpendicularly from the substrate, and an optical coupler associated with each of the one or more nanowires. A method of making a color filter array may include, making an array of nanowires, wherein each of the nanowires extend substantially perpendicularly from a substrate, disposing a transparent polymer material to substantially encapsulate the nanowires, removing the nanowires from the substrate, providing a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein a hard polymer substantially covers an image plane of the pixel array, disposing the array of nanowires on the pixel array, and removing the transparent polymer encapsulating the nanowires.

Abstract: Described herein is device configured to be a solar-blind UV detector comprising a substrate; a plurality of pixels; a plurality of nanowires in each of the plurality of pixel, wherein the plurality of nanowires extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light to the substrate. Light of different wavelengths can be detected using the imaging device.

Abstract: Described herein is a device operable to detect polarized light comprising: a substrate; a first subpixel; a second subpixel adjacent to the first subpixel; a first plurality of features in the first subpixel and a second plurality of features in the second subpixel, wherein the first plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a first direction parallel to the substrate and the second plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a second direction parallel to the substrate; wherein the first direction and the second direction are different; the first plurality of features and the second plurality of features react differently to the polarized light.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing a device comprising a substrate having a front side and a back-side, a nanowire disposed on the back-side and an image sensing circuit disposed on the front side, wherein the nanowire is configured to be both a channel to transmit wavelengths up to a selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the nanowire.

Abstract: Various embodiments for etching of silicon nitride (SixNy) lightpipes, waveguides and pillars, fabricating photodiode elements, and integration of the silicon nitride elements with photodiode elements are described. The results show that the quantum efficiency of the photodetectors (PDs) can be increased using vertical silicon nitride vertical waveguides.

Abstract: Described herein is device configured to be a solar-blind UV detector comprising a substrate; a plurality of pixels; a plurality of nanowires in each of the plurality of pixel, wherein the plurality of nanowires extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a device operable to detect polarized light comprising: a substrate; a first subpixel; a second subpixel adjacent to the first subpixel; a first plurality of features in the first subpixel and a second plurality of features in the second subpixel, wherein the first plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a first direction parallel to the substrate and the second plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a second direction parallel to the substrate; wherein the first direction and the second direction are different; the first plurality of features and the second plurality of features react differently to the polarized light.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a device comprising a substrate having a front side and a back-side, a nanowire disposed on the back-side and an image sensing circuit disposed on the front side, wherein the nanowire is configured to be both a channel to transmit wavelengths up to a selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the nanowire.

Abstract: “An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light to the substrate. Light of different wavelengths can be detected using the imaging device.