US Patent 7323635 - Flexible photovoltaic cell including semiconductor nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7323432.html

This patent from the University of Massachusetts (and co-owned by the Dept. of Defense) teaches a photovoltaic cell which can be manufactured at reduced temperature so that the cells can be formed on alternative substrates (such as a flexible plastic sheet). Claim 1 reads:

1. A photovoltaic cell, comprising: a first substrate having semiconductor particles disposed thereon, and an electronically conducting, molecular crosslinking agent that forms oxide bridges to the particles; and a second substrate electrically connected to the first substrate, wherein the crosslinking agent is different than the semiconductor particles, comprises a metal, comprises an identical chemical bond as in the semiconductor particles, and provides an electronic connection between the semiconductor particles.