Nanowire arrays could improve solar cells

To collect electricity in a solar cell or inject electricity for a display, you need a conductive contact, like a metal, but you also need to be able to let light in (for solar cells) or out (for displays). Metal is opaque, so the current techniques use metal oxides, most often indium tin oxide, as the conductive contact. Because supplies of indium tin oxide are limited, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have turned to ordered metal nanowire meshes that use more common elements and provide high transmissivity and high electrical connectivity.