UCLA

This thesis investigates the theory, fabrication, and characterization of nanostructured hybrid solar cells. Motivation for a hybrid organic-inorganic approach to solar cells is detailed and the benefits of nanopillars as an ideal framework for hybrid cells overviewed. The growth of selective area catalyst-free gallium arsenide nanopillars using metal organic chemical vapor deposition is discussed in detail. Next the step-by-step fabrication of the nanopillar growth mask and the hybrid solar cell device are overviewed. A main concern during fabrication is the uniform and sufficient coverage of the polymer on the nanopillar sidewalls. Multiple spin coatings of polymer are applied to the GaAs nanopillars to find an optimal polymer coating. Electrical characterization of the current-voltage characteristics under light and dark along with photocurrent over the UV-Visible spectrum is presented.