Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain an easy-to-work solar battery module having high joining strength as well as suppressing an increase in residual thermal stress without increasing the thickness of an interconnector. The solar battery module of the present invention includes a solar battery cell including a semiconductor substrate having pn junction, and a first electrode and a second electrode that are formed on a p-type region and an n-type region of the semiconductor substrate and an interconnector to connect the solar battery cell and an adjacent solar battery cell. The interconnector is a bundle of a plurality of round thin wires and includes abutment regions abutting on the first electrode and the second electrode of the adjacent solar battery cell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes at least one string of solar modules and a system for individually disconnecting the solar modules and for safely connecting or reconnecting the disconnected solar modules to the string. At least some of the solar junction boxes are “smart” and have a safety circuit that defines an operating state and a safe state. The solar junction boxes are switched from the safe state to the operating state, i.e. are activated, by injecting a starting current.

Abstract: Solar cells with silicon oxynitride dielectric layers and methods of forming silicon oxynitride dielectric layers for solar cell fabrication are described. For example, an emitter region of a solar cell includes a portion of a substrate having a back surface opposite a light receiving surface. A silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy, 0<x, y) dielectric layer is disposed on the back surface of the portion of the substrate. A semiconductor layer is disposed on the silicon oxynitride dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a device with integrated photovoltaic cells includes supporting a semiconductor substrate on a first handle substrate and doping the semiconductor substrate to form doped alternating regions with opposite conductivity. A doped layer is formed over a first side the semiconductor substrate. A conductive material is patterned over the doped layer to form conductive islands such that the conductive islands are aligned with the alternating regions to define a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series on a monolithic structure.

Abstract: Embodiments are notably directed to a thermoelectric device including a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a Weyl semimetal and a plurality of magnetized elements. The plurality of magnetized elements are configured to apply a directed magnetic field on the Weyl-semimetal. Embodiments further concern a related method for cooling a device and a related method for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing light onto a plurality of solar cells. The apparatus comprises a plurality of solar cells, a plurality of groups of reflectors corresponding to the plurality of solar cells, and a control module in communication with the plurality of solar cells and the plurality of groups of reflectors. The control module includes control logic for monitoring an electrical output from the plurality of solar cells and repositioning the plurality of groups of reflectors when the electrical output is below a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a reflector in a solar array. A switch device is switched from a first state to a second state. A calibration voltage is applied to each of a set of actuation devices associated with the reflector in response to the switch device switching to the second state when the calibration circuit is electrically connected to the set of actuation devices.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells, methods of fabricating photovoltaic cells, and methods of using photovoltaic cells to capture light energy are provided. A photovoltaic cell can include an electron transporting layer, a photoactive layer, and a hole transporting layer. The electron transporting layer can be ultraviolet ozone treated. The photovoltaic cell can have an inverted configuration.

Abstract: A solar cell containing a plurality of CIGS absorber sublayers has a conversion efficiency of at least 13.4 percent and a minority carrier lifetime below 2 nanoseconds. The sublayers may have a different composition from each other.

Abstract: Discussed is a solar cell including a substrate having a first conductivity type; an emitter layer including a plurality of finger lines connected with an emitter layer; a plurality of rear finger lines connected with a back surface field, wherein the emitter layer includes first areas in contact with the plurality of front finger lines and second areas positioned between the plurality of front finger lines and having a lower doping concentration than that of the first areas, the back surface field includes areas in contact with the plurality of rear finger lines, and the number of the plurality of rear finger lines positioned on a rear surface of the substrate and the number of the plurality of front finger lines positioned on a front surface of the substrate are different.

Abstract: A system and method for a photovoltaic (PV) module is disclosed that includes a microinverter assembly having a housing disposed on an inactive surface of a PV panel and a microinverter disposed within the housing. The PV module also includes a mounting bracket having a central bracket portion coupled to a frame of the PV panel, a first extension portion extending from the central bracket portion and coupled to the housing, a second extension portion extending from the central bracket portion and positioned on the inactive side of the PV panel, and a third extension portion located above the second extension portion and extending from the central bracket portion. At least one of the second and third extension portions is in contact with an inner wall of the frame of the PV panel.

Abstract: Technologies for a micro-concentrator modular array. The micro-concentrator modular array may include two or more micro-concentrator solar modules. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be removable from the micro-concentrator modular array. Micro-concentrator solar modules may be added to a micro-concentrator modular array. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to other micro-concentrator solar modules. To facilitate an electrical connection, a conductive connector may be used to connect an electrical output of one micro-concentrator solar module with an electrical input of another micro-concentrator solar module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that controls the power produced by a string of solar cells, enabling the string to operate at its maximum power point when connected to a bus that operates at an externally controlled voltage. The apparatus and method can also be used to increase or decrease the output power of a string to any desired operating point.

Abstract: This invention relates to a metalized skutterudite thermoelectric material having improved long-term stability and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the skutterudite thermoelectric material is metalized with a multilayer structure including a Ti layer for preventing the diffusion of the skutterudite thermoelectric material and a Fe—Ni layer for preventing an increase in the thickness of an intermetallic compound layer, whereby the performance of the skutterudite thermoelectric material does not deteriorate due to diffusion and formation of the intermetallic compound even upon long-term use, thus exhibiting improved stability of use, and moreover, the lifetime and stability of a thermoelectric power generation module using the skutterudite thermoelectric material can be increased, whereby the power generation efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation module can be increased in the long term.

Abstract: The invention relates a thin-film solar cell. In the related art, a buffer layer, a transparent electrode, and a grid electrode are formed on a light absorption layer, but in the invention, the buffer layer and the transparent electrode are not formed on a light absorption layer, and the buffer layer, the transparent electrode, and the grid electrode are formed under a CIGS face such that solar light is directly input to the light absorption layer without obstacles, and the first electrode and the buffer layer are patterned in a saw-toothed structure to engage with each other to reduce a distance by which electrons or holes generated by absorbing light energy move to the electrode or the buffer layer.

Abstract: A solar energy collector includes a generally tubular housing or multiple tubular housings each having an open end for receipt of solar rays which are then reflected from a generally conical mirror within the housing onto solar cells lining the inside surface of the housing. Various mechanisms are utilized to favorably orient the housing or otherwise direct the solar rays and to maximize the incidence of reflected solar rays onto solar cells.

Abstract: A radial nanowire Esaki diode device includes a semiconductor core of a first conductivity type and a semiconductor shell of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The device may be a TFET or a solar cell.

Abstract: A solar cell containing a plurality of CIGS absorber sublayers has a conversion efficiency of at least 13.4 percent and a minority carrier lifetime below 2 nanoseconds. The sublayers may have a different composition from each other.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module and a thermoelectric conversion apparatus in which a thermoelectric conversion element can be flexibly attached to heat sources having various shapes in high density are provided. The thermoelectric conversion module includes a first thermoelectric conversion element configured of a cylindrical thermoelectric conversion material having a hollow portion and a second thermoelectric conversion element configured of a thermoelectric conversion material having a different conductive type from that of the first thermoelectric conversion element and fixed in the hollow portion.

Abstract: Tandem electro-optic devices and active materials for electro-optic devices are disclosed. Tandem devices include p-type and n-type layers between the active layers, which are doped to achieve carrier tunneling. Low bandgap conjugated polymers are also disclosed.