The research and development of solar cells using nanotechnology addresses three critical properties, namely effective transparency, conductivity, and catalytic activity and the use of nanotechnology offers increased surface area to volume ratio to enhance solar energycollection efficiency by exposing more conducting surfaces to the sunlight. Classic nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), fullerenes and quantum dots are being used to make solar cells lighter, cheaper, and more efficient. For example, constructing photovoltaics with vertical laying CNTs greatly increases the amount of light that can be collected. Quantum dots have the ability to absorb different wavelengths of light that result in dynamic solar cells in the near future. Another area that nanotechnology will impact is through the use of materials like lead-selenide which will increase the photovoltaic efficiency by making large number of electrons released when exposed to light. By modifying structural properties using nanowires the properties can be enhanced.