Nanditha Dissanayake

Title: Nanditha Dissanayake and Her Photovoltaic Inventions.

Introduction

Nanditha Dissanayake is an inventor associated with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her work includes photovoltaic devices and carbon nanotube-based hybrid photovoltaics. She is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Photoactive Device. This invention describes a photovoltaic device with electrodes and at least one photoactive layer between them. A substrate sits beneath the photovoltaic device, with a nanostructured backreflective layer below the substrate. The arrangement allows some incident light to pass through the device and substrate, then scatter back toward the photovoltaic device.

Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Photovoltaics. This invention concerns systems and methods for generating photocurrent in single- or multi-walled carbon nanotubes combined with P3HT. The described research indicates that both semiconducting and metallic nanotubes can act as hole acceptors, while P3HT p-dopes the nanotubes and a built-in voltage at the heterojunction drives exciton dissociation. Some embodiments use horizontally aligned nanotube arrays in bilayer photovoltaics and report effective external quantum efficiency above 90%, supporting the development of potentially low-cost, high-efficiency hybrid solar cells.

Career Highlights

Dissanayake’s patent work addresses light management in photovoltaic devices and charge generation in carbon nanotube-polymer systems. These inventions explore approaches to improving the capture and conversion of light into electrical current.

Collaborations

Her listed coworkers include Peicheng Ku and Brian Roberts. Her work is associated with the University of Michigan.

Conclusion

Nanditha Dissanayake’s two patents highlight research into photovoltaic structures and carbon nanotube hybrid systems, with a focus on improving solar-energy conversion.