Polarized light based solar cell

Abstract

A solar cell is provided wherein a circular polarizer is positioned proximate an absorptive semiconductor layer which itself is separated from an electrode, such as a loop of conductive metal, by an electrically insulative layer. Upon exposure to non-polarized light, a portion of the incident light is polarized and transmitted to the semiconductor layer. Under the influence of this polarized light, photo excited electrons in the semiconductor layer are induced to move in a circular motion, thereby generating magnetic fields. These magnetic fields drive the flow of current within the electrode.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A multi-layer solar cell device comprising;
 a circular polarizer layer having a top face and a bottom face, said top face situated for exposure to incoming light;   a light absorptive semiconductor layer proximate to the bottom face of said circular polarizer layer;   an electrode disposed below said semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the electrode is separated from said semiconductor layer by an insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 4  wherein said electrode is separated from said semiconductor layer by an insulating material coated over said electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 3  wherein the electrode is further separated from said semiconductor layer by an insulating layer interposed between said semiconductor layer and said electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein said electrode is a coiled electrode 
     
     
         6 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 5  wherein said electrode is wound around an insulating material. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the circular polarizer is a broadband circular polarizer. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the circular polarizer is a monochromatic circular polarizer. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the circular polarizer layer comprises a linear polarizer on a monochromatic wave retarder affixed to a substrate, an achromic wave retarder affixed to a substrate, or a cholesteric liquid crystal affixed to a substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the electrode comprises a conductive wire. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 10  wherein the material of the wire is selected from the group comprising copper, graphene, Al:ZnO, ITO and FTO. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the material used to form the light absorptive semiconductor layer is selected from the group comprising LiNbO 3 , Te, Bi 12 SiO 20 , Pb 5 Ge 3 O 11 , and InN. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 1  wherein the material used to form the light absorptive semiconductor layer is LiNbO 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 13  wherein said light absorptive semiconductor layer is doped with at least one metal selected from the group comprising Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, and Cu. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-layer solar cell device of  claim 14  wherein said dopant comprising at least one metal is iron. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  further including a top protective layer adjacent the top face of said circular polarizer layer. 
     
     
         17 . A method of generating electricity including the steps of:
 providing a solar cell incorporating a circular polarizer,   exposing said solar cell to non-polarized light,   transmitting a portion of said incident light through said circular polarizer, whereby the portion of incident light transmitted is circularly polarized;   exposing an light absorptive semiconductor material to said transmitted circularly polarized light, whereby a magnetic field is generated; and,   providing an electrode proximate to said absorptive semiconductor material and situated within said generated magnetic field, whereby a current is induced in said electrode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the electrode is a conductive coil.