Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module and a manufacturing method thereof, and a photovoltaic module. The solar cell module includes a substrate; and conductive layers arranged on a surface of the substrate and separated from each other. Solar sub-cells are provided on a surface of the conductive layer. Grooves are provided between adjacent solar sub-cells to separate the solar sub-cells from each other. Each of the solar sub-cells includes a hole transport layer, a perovskite layer and an electron transport layer that are stacked on the surface of the conductive layer. The hole transport layer of each solar sub-cell includes branch electrodes separated from each other. Each of the branch electrodes contacts an interior of the conductive layer. The solar cell module further includes an electrode. The electrode successively passes through the electron transport layer and the perovskite layer and is connected to the branch electrodes.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a dye sensitized solar cell has a counter-electrode including carbon-titania nanocomposite thin films made by forming a carbon-based ink; forming a titania (TiO2) solution; blade-coating a mechanical mixture of the carbon-based ink and the titania solution onto a substrate; and annealing the blade-coated substrate at a first temperature for a first period of time to obtain the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films. In certain embodiments, the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films may include solvent-exfoliated graphene titania (SEG-TiO2) nanocomposite thin films, or single walled carbon nanotube titania (SWCNT-TiO2) nanocomposite thin films.

Abstract: Presented in the present disclosure are nanocomposites and rechargeable batteries which are resistant to thermal runaway and are safe, reliable, and stable electrode materials for rechargeable batteries operated at high temperature and high pressure. The nanocomposites include a plurality of transition metal oxide nanoparticles, a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a first two-dimensional (2D) material, and a plurality of ultrathin sheets of a different 2D material, which act in synergy to provide an improved thermal stability, an increased surface area, and enhanced electrochemical properties to the nanocomposites. For example, rechargeable batteries that include the nanocomposites as an electrode material have an enhanced performance and stability over a broad temperature range from room temperature to high temperatures.

Abstract: An expandable and retractable photovoltaic structure includes a base that provides support to permit mounting of the photovoltaic structure solely from the base. Photovoltaic panels are arranged adjacently between the base and a lead element when the photovoltaic structure is in an open configuration. The photovoltaic structure is supported by scissor link mechanisms, coupled to the base at one end and the lead support element at the other end. The scissor link mechanisms consist of scissor links pivotally coupled together to form a moveable successive chain of the scissor links. The photovoltaic panels are attached to the scissor links, via side frames, so that as the lead arm moves away from the base the scissor link mechanisms expand to deploy the photovoltaic structure in an open configuration, and as the lead arm moves towards the base, the scissor link mechanisms retract the photovoltaic structure to place the photovoltaic structure in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system for generating electrical power on farmland while minimizing reduction of solar radiation incident on ground due to shadowing, including a photovoltaic module having a first photovoltaic face defining a first plane, a normal axis extending from the first plane, a first pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, a second pivot axis extending through the photovoltaic module, at least one motor operationally connected to pivot the photovoltaic module about at least one pivot axis, and an electronic controller operationally connected to at least one motor. An incident solar ray strikes the photovoltaic module at an angle of incidence defined as an intersection of the incident solar ray and the normal axis. The electronic controller sends signals to the at least one motor to maintain the angle of incidence as close as possible to ninety degrees.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to solar tracking apparatuses, systems that include the same, and methods of operating the same. An example solar tracking apparatus includes a structure attachment portion configured to be attached to a structure (e.g., a moveable or stationary structure) and to remain relatively stationary relative to the structure. The structure attachment portion may include one or more mounts configured to attach the structure attachment portion to the structure. The solar tracking apparatus also includes at least one solar panel portion coupled to the structure attachment portion. The solar panel portion may be configured to move relative to the structure attachment portion and the structure. For example, the solar tracking apparatus may include one or more actuators coupled to solar panel portion configured to move at least a portion of the solar panel portion relative to the structure attachment portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate for lithium ion battery separators which has high adhesion to an inorganic particle layer, can be made thin and is excellent in tensile strength and cuttability and a lithium ion battery separator including the substrate for lithium ion battery separators. The substrate for lithium ion battery separators which contains heat-resistant fibers and synthetic resin short fibers contains fibrillated heat-resistant fibers having a modified freeness of not more than 300 ml as the heat-resistant fibers and has a content of the fibrillated heat-resistant fibers having a modified freeness of not more than 300 ml of not less than 1.0 mass % to less than 5.0 mass % based on the total of all the fiber components contained in the substrate. The modified freeness is a value measured in accordance with JIS P8121-2:2012 except that an 80-mesh wire net having a wire diameter of 0.14 mm and an opening of 0.

Abstract: Thin-film solar cell modules and serial cell-to-cell interconnect structures and methods of fabrication are described. In an embodiment, a solar cell interconnect includes a bypass diode between adjacent solar cells to allow the flow of current around a single solar cell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus is provided including a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module. Each photovoltaic module includes a front sheet having an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is disposed around a core to form a keder. Each photovoltaic module further includes a back sheet and a photovoltaic device disposed between the front sheet and the back sheet. Each photovoltaic device includes an array of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining an interaction property between a molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle on the one hand and a target particle on the other hand. The method comprises obtaining potentiometric titration results for a potentiometric measurement during titration of a solution with a titrant, said solution being a solution of one of a ligand of the target particle or said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle. Said titrant comprises the other of said target particle ligand or said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle. The method also comprises deriving based on said potentiometric titration results an interaction property between said molecule or biomolecule or particle or bioparticle or nano- or microparticle and said target particle.

Abstract: A semiconductor sintered body comprising a polycrystalline body, wherein the polycrystalline body includes silicon or a silicon alloy, wherein the average grain size of the crystal grains forming the polycrystalline body is 1 ?m or less, and wherein nanoparticles including one or more of a carbide of silicon, a nitride of silicon, and an oxide of silicon are present at a grain boundary of the grains.

Abstract: A unique, environmentally-friendly micron scale autonomous electrical power source is provided for generating renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in electronic systems, electronic devices and electronic system components. The autonomous electrical power source includes a first conductor with a facing surface conditioned to have a low work function, a second conductor with a facing surface having a comparatively higher work function, and a dielectric layer of not more than 200 nm in thickness sandwiched between the respective facing surfaces of the first conductor and the second conductor. The autonomous electrical power source is configured to harvest minimal thermal energy from any source in an environment above absolute zero. An autonomous electrical power source component is also provided that includes a plurality of autonomous electrical power source constituent elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the autonomous electrical power source.

Abstract: A high efficiency configuration for a string of solar cells comprises series-connected solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingle pattern. Front and back surface metallization patterns may provide further increases in efficiency.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of solar cells mounted on a flexible support, the support comprising a conductive layer on the top surface thereof divided into two electrically isolated portions—a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Each solar cell comprises a front surface, a rear surface, and a first contact on the rear surface and a second contact on the front surface. Each one of the plurality of solar cells is placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electrically connected to the first conductive portion so that the solar cells are connected through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell is then connected to the second conductive portion by an interconnect. The two conductive portions serve as bus bars representing contacts of two different polarities of the solar cell assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an expandable splice configured for reinforcing a tube of a solar owner system, the splice including a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and at least one beveled corner panel, wherein the first and second side panels are connected to the top and bottom panels either directly or by the at least one beveled corner panel to form a channel therebetween.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus (1000) is provided including a front sheet (250) having a first portion (2501) and a second portion (2502). The photovoltaic apparatus further includes a back sheet (210) having a first portion (2101), a second portion (2102), and a first folded portion (2103), where the second portion of the front sheet is disposed between the second portion of the back sheet and the first folded portion of the back sheet. The photovoltaic apparatus further includes one or more photovoltaic devices (100) disposed between the first portion of the front sheet and the first portion of the back sheet, where each of the one or more photovoltaic devices includes an array of photovoltaic cells (105).

Abstract: Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions with differentiated P-type and N-type architectures and incorporating dotted diffusion, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate having a light-receiving surface and a back surface. A first polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a first conductivity type is disposed on a first thin dielectric layer disposed on the back surface of the substrate. A second polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a second, different, conductivity type is disposed on a second thin dielectric layer disposed in a plurality of non-continuous trenches in the back surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated flexible thermoelectric device includes p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and n-type carbon nanoparticle regions which are alternately and continuously connected to each other. In particular, the p-type carbon nanoparticle regions and the n-type carbon nanoparticle regions are formed on the one carbon nanoparticle paper.

Abstract: a fuel cell system without a high pressure line of a hydrogen supplying system, including a gas charging line formed between a gas charging station and a high pressure vessel charged with gas by the gas charging station, and a gas supplying line formed between the high pressure vessel and a stack, includes: a regulator provided in the gas supplying line; a solenoid valve provided in the gas supplying line between the regulator and the high pressure vessel; and a check valve provided in a bypass line connecting one point of the gas supplying line between the regulator and the solenoid valve and one point of the gas charging line.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include a substrate, a conductive layer formed on the substrate and an absorber layer formed on the conductive layer from a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide material. An emitter layer is formed on the absorber layer and a buffer layer is formed on the emitter layer including an atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer. A transparent conductor layer is formed on the buffer layer.