Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) arrays grown vertically on an indium tin oxide glass substrate by the vapor liquid solid process are covered with poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) mixed with [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) to make into a hybrid solar cell. With proper control of the nanowire size and arrangement of the band structure suitable for charge carrier transport, the P3HT/SiNWs solar cell can have a much better energy conversion efficiency than the P3HT+PCBM solar cell. Poor band structure arrangement can lead to band barrier and enhanced electron-hole pair recombination and much lower efficiency even with more light absorption.

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