TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The light energy conversion layer produces photon-excited electrons (36) or photon-excited charge carrier holes which are ballistically transported by the conducting layer from the light energy conversion layer to the charge separation layer. The light energy conversion layer comprises different photosensitive layers to maximize capture of the incident light spectrum, or photosensitive layer structures. The photosensitive layers are embedded in the conducting layer. The light energy conversion layer has a light-receiving surface patterned to provide increased surface area. The light-receiving surface may be provided with anti-reflection coating to reduce reflective light. The light energy conversion layer may be porous or may be formed from template molecules to provide an increased surface area. The conducting layer is transparent and may be formed from template molecules to provide an increased surface area. The charge separation layer comprises a semiconductor of predetermined type, and a semiconductor of the opposite type to provide an increased barrier height and photovoltage. It may comprise an insulator deposited on metal or semiconductor. The charge separation layer may be an insulator/semiconductor multi-layer. It may be porous, structured, or formed from template molecules to provide an increased surface area. The conducting and charge separation layers define a Schottky barrier, a tunnel junction, a metal-insulator-metal junction or a metal-insulator-semiconductor junction.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The conducting layer is formed from metal, non-metal (e.g. conducting or semiconducting polymer) or metal oxide conductor. The conducting layer is an ultra-thin metal (e.g. gold or platinum) film having a thickness of 0.5-1,000 nm. The charge separation layer comprises inorganic semiconductor, preferably titanium dioxide, tantalum oxide or tungsten oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The conducting layer is formed from metal, non-metal (e.g. conducting or semiconducting polymer) or metal oxide conductor. The conducting layer is an ultra-thin metal (e.g. gold or platinum) film having a thickness of 0.5-1,000 nm. The charge separation layer comprises inorganic semiconductor, preferably titanium dioxide, tantalum oxide or tungsten oxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The light energy conversion layer is formed from organic dye, metal cyanate, metal photocyanate, a material including nanoclusters or nanostructures, or thin film semiconductor. The charge separation layer may comprise organic semiconductor, preferably merbromin, O-phenylxanthene or iron cyanate.