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Thermoelectric Nanowire Arrays Response to Illumination

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Low-Dimensional Functional Materials

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Abstract

Bismuth nanowire arrays configured on devices where they are capped with a transparent indium tin oxide electrode generate electric power when exposed to light. The arrays feature poor optical reflectivity and, possibly, light trapping. We show experimental results that indicate that the arrays respond to illumination owing to the thermoelectric conversion of heat absorbed at the surface. The unique features of the energy pathway are manifested through a strong temporal and photon wavelength dependence of the photoresponse. Energy conversion in thermoelectrics with light trapping surfaces is a path to fast infrared light detection and across-the-spectrum solar energy harvesting.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Howard University, 500 College St. NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA

    Tito Huber

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, 2300 Sixth St. NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA

    Reum Scott, Scott Johnson & Tina Brower

  3. Institute of Electronic Engineering and Industrial Technologies, ASM, Chisinau, MD-2018, Moldova

    Albina Nikolaeva & Leonid Konopko

Authors
  1. Tito Huber
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  2. Reum Scott
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  3. Scott Johnson
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  4. Tina Brower
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  5. Albina Nikolaeva
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  6. Leonid Konopko
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tito Huber .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institut für Theoretische Physik IV, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstrasse 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany

    Reinhold Egger

  2. Laboratory for Advanced Studies, Department of Energy, Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, Niyazov St. 17, Tashkent, 100174, Uzbekistan

    Davron Matrasulov

  3. , Department of Physics, National University of Uzbekistan, Niyazov St. 17, Tashkent, 100174, Uzbekistan

    Khamdam Rakhimov

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Huber, T., Scott, R., Johnson, S., Brower, T., Nikolaeva, A., Konopko, L. (2013). Thermoelectric Nanowire Arrays Response to Illumination. In: Egger, R., Matrasulov, D., Rakhimov, K. (eds) Low-Dimensional Functional Materials. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6618-1_17

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