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: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a thermocouple device comprising a flexible non-planar substrate, a first printed thermocouple element comprising a first metal containing ink composition applied to the flexible non-planar substrate, and a second printed thermocouple element in electrical contact with the first printed thermocouple element making a thermocouple junction. The second printed thermocouple element comprises a second metal containing ink composition with a Seebeck coefficient sufficiently different from the first metal containing ink composition for the first and second printed thermocouple elements to together produce a thermocouple effect. The present application further relates to medical devices comprising the thermocouple and methods of making such devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an assembled battery having a plurality of unit cells, spacers disposed so as to sandwich the unit cells, and restraining members that restrain the unit cells and the spacers in an array direction X. In each unit cell, a flat wound electrode body having a winding end fixed by a fixing member is accommodated in a battery case. The spacers are provided with rib portions protruding towards long side surfaces of the battery case. Flat portions of the electrode body each have a pressing region including a pressing site that opposes the rib portions, and a moderation region other than the pressing region. The pressing region includes at least the center of each flat portion in a winding axis direction, and a first pressing region over a direction along a major axis. The fixing member is disposed at the moderation region.

Abstract: A gas flow passage formation plate includes a plurality of projections arranged in a first direction and a second direction. The projections project toward a membrane electrode assembly. The gas flow passage formation plate further includes a gas flow passage, a water flow passage, and a plurality of openings. The gas flow passage is formed by a portion of the gas flow passage formation plate at a side opposing the membrane electrode assembly including regions between two adjacent projections. The water flow passage is formed by a portion of the gas flow passage formation plate at a side opposing a partition plate including the inside of the projections. The openings are each formed in a side wall of the projection connecting inside and outside of the projection. Each opening is arranged at only one location in one projection.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and system for improving the energy efficiency of a vanadium flow battery, VFB. This is achieved by simultaneously reconditioning the VFB through in-situ activation of the electrodes.

Abstract: The present application can provide a battery module, a method for manufacturing method the same and a thermally conductive material applied to the manufacturing method. The present application can provide a battery module having excellent output relative to volume and heat dissipation characteristics, with being manufactured in a simple process and at a low cost, a method for manufacturing the same, and a thermally conductive material applied to the manufacturing method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photovoltaic (PV) unit adapted to provide wireless power transfer output comprising one or more photovoltaic cells that generate electrical output, and at least one wireless power transfer transmitter coupled to transfer the electrical output via wireless power transfer. Such a PV unit can be provided in combination with a roofing, cladding or siding module. Such a module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface; and an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface.

Abstract: An analyte testing material web, method of making the analyte testing material web, and an analyzer are disclosed. The analyte testing material web has a material web and a plurality of distinct sample testing devices. The material web has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first side, and a second side. The plurality of sample testing devices are positioned on the first surface of the material web. Each of the plurality of sample testing devices has an inlet, an outlet, a fluid channel, and one or more testing elements within the fluid channel and configured to analyze one or more analyte within a sample applied to the inlet of one of the plurality of sample testing devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light absorbing layer (1a) for a photovoltaic device, comprising a plurality of grains (2) of a doped semiconducting material and a charge conductor (3) made of a charge conducting material in physical contact with the grains. The grains are partly covered with the charge conductor (3) so that a plurality of junctions (4) are formed between the grains and the charge conductor. The present invention also relates to a photovoltaic device comprising the light absorbing layer (1a).

Abstract: A solar cell module comprising a plurality of solar cells and a polyimide 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. A the plurality of solar cells are placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electronically connected to the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell can be connected through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each solar cell can be connected to the second conductive portion. The two conductive portions serve as bus bars of two different polarities of the solar cell module.

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: An optoelectronic component includes a photoactive layer which is arranged between an electrode and a counter electrode. In addition to a donor-acceptor system, the photoactive layer includes a third material which influences the crystallization of the donor-acceptor system. The third material selected from a group consisting of crown ethers, triphenyls, sorbitols, quinacridones and bis(4-(tert-butyl)benzoato-O) hydroxyaluminium. Crown ethers are especially preferred.

Abstract: A nanopore cell is disclosed. The nanopore cell includes an electrolyte well having a bottom base, a surrounding sidewall, and a hydrophobic surface above the surrounding sidewall. The nanopore cell further includes a first layer of electrode material disposed on the bottom base of the electrolyte well. The nanopore cell further includes a second layer of electrode material disposed on the surrounding sidewall of the electrolyte well and electrically connected to the first layer of electrode material. The first layer of electrode material and the second layer of electrode material are configured to jointly provide capacitive coupling when an electrolyte is placed in the electrolyte well.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane stacked between different electrodes, wherein an ionomer layer of the electrolyte membrane comprises an adjacent electrode, a first layer having at least a same cross-sectional area as that of the adjacent electrode, a reinforcing layer and a second layer stacked at a side of the first layer, the second layer having at least the same cross-sectional area as that of the reinforcing layer.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device having an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer between the anode and the cathode, in which the light emitting layer contains a first organic compound, a second organic compound, and a third organic compound that satisfy the following expression (A), the second organic compound is a delayed fluorescent material, and the third organic compound is a light emitting material, is capable of enhancing the light emission efficiency. ES1(A), ES1(B) and ES1(C) represent a lowest singlet excitation energy level of the first, second and third organic compound, respectively.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module according to the present disclosure includes: a pair of insulating substrates, each insulating substrate including a one main surface in a plan view, and a rectangular facing region of the one main surface, the rectangular facing regions facing each other; wiring conductors located on the one main surfaces of the pair of insulating substrates, respectively; a pair of metal plates located on other main surfaces opposite to the one main surfaces of the pair of insulating substrates, respectively; and a plurality of thermoelectric elements located between the one main surfaces of the pair of insulating substrates. At least one insulating substrate and at least one metal plate include a protrusion protruding from a one side of the rectangular facing region in the plan view, and a metal pattern located on the one main surface of the protrusion, the metal pattern not electrically connected to the wiring conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid sequencing method that determines the sequence of a template nucleic acid by electrochemical means via the depletion of metal ions as a result of its binding to and/or precipitation with pyrophosphate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack alignment system includes an alignment guide bar for positioning a plurality of stack components. Each of the stack components has an alignment slot and a spacing slot. A first alignment portion and a second alignment portion of the alignment guide bar has a shape that is complimentary to the shape of the alignment slot of each of the stack components. Abutting engagement between one of the first or second alignment portions and the alignment slot aligns each respective stack component in a respective assembly position. The other of the first and second alignment portions of each respective stack component is disposed within the spacing slot. The spacing slot has a shape that is larger than the first and second alignment portions, to provide a gap between the stack components and the alignment guide bar.

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: A solar cell assembly for space application comprising a plurality of space-qualified solar cells and a support, the support comprising a conductive layer. The conductive layer is divided into a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Each space-qualified solar cell of the plurality of space-qualified solar cells comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and a first contact in correspondence with the rear surface. Each one of the plurality of space-qualified solar cells is placed on the first conductive portion with the first contact electrically connected to the first conductive portion so that the space-qualified solar cells are connected in parallel through the first conductive portion. A second contact of each space-qualified solar cell can be connected to the second conductive portion. The two conductive portions serve as bus bars of the space-qualified solar cell assembly.