Photovoltaic fibers

1. A photovoltaic fiber comprising:

a fiber core having an outer surface;

a photosensitized nanomatrix material applied to the outer surface of the fiber core;

a protective layer, therein disposed the photosensitized nanomatrix material-coated fiber core, a charge carrier material, and a counter electrode,

wherein the counter electrode comprises at least one electrically conductive wire.

2. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core is substantially electrically conductive.

3. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core is substantially electrically insulative and further comprises an inner electrical conductor disposed on the electrically insulative fiber core.

4. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises a flexible polymeric material.

5. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the photosensitized nanomatrix material comprises nanoparticles.

6. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 5, wherein the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of titanium oxides, zirconium oxides, zinc oxides, tungsten oxides, niobium oxides, lanthanum oxides, tin oxides, terbium oxides, tantalum oxides, and one or more combinations thereof.

7. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the charge carrier material comprises a redox electrolyte.

8. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive wire comprises a material selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, palladium, iron, and alloys thereof.

9. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive wire comprises platinum.

10. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core has a glass transition temperature less than about 300° C.

11. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 10, wherein the fiber core has a glass transition temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 150° C.

12. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core has a diameter of less than about 250 μm.

13. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 12, wherein the fiber core has a diameter of less than about 125 μm.

14. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core comprises a flexible polymeric material.

15. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 14, wherein the fiber core comprises a polyethylene terephthalate.

16. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the fiber core comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of flax, cotton, wool, silk, nylon, and combinations thereof.

17. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 2, wherein the fiber core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal alloys, conductive polymers, filled polymers, and combinations thereof.

18. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the photosensitized nanomatrix material further comprises a photosensitizing agent.

19. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 18, wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises a dye.

20. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 18, wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises an organic molecule selected from the group consisting of xanthines, cyanines, merocyanines, phthalocyanines, and pyrroles.

21. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 1, wherein the photosensitized nanomatrix material comprises particles with an average size in the range of about 2 nm to about 100 nm.

22. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 21, wherein the photosensitized nanomatrix material comprises particles with an average size in the range of about 10 nm to about 40 nm.

23. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 6, wherein the metal oxide comprises TiO2.

24. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 6, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are interconnected by sintering.

25. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 6, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are interconnected by a polymeric linking agent.

26. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 25, wherein:

the polymeric linking agent has the formula —[O—M(OR)i—]m—;

M is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, W, Nb, La, Ta, Tb, Sn, and Zn;

R is selected from the group of chemical moieties consisting of acetate, alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aromatic, acyl, and hydrogen;

i is an integer greater than 0; and

m is an integer greater than 1.

27. The photovoltaic fiber of claim 26, wherein the polymeric linking agent comprises poly(n-butyl titanate).

28. An article of manufacture comprising the photovoltaic fiber of claim 1.

29. A flexible fabric comprising the photovoltaic fiber of claim 1.

30. A photovoltaic fiber comprising:

a fiber core;

a photosensitized nanomatrix material disposed over the fiber core;

a protective layer, therein disposed the photosensitized nanomatrix material-coated fiber core, a charge carrier and a counter electrode,

wherein the fiber core is substantially electrically insulative and further comprises an inner electrical conductor disposed on the electrically insulative fiber core.