Abstract: Intermediate temperature metallization pastes containing vanadium are disclosed. The metallization pastes can be used to fabricate electrodes interconnected to a transparent conductor.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for internally heated concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal absorbers. The system and method involve an energy-generating device having at least one heating unit. At least one heating unit preheats the energy-generating device in order to expedite the startup time of the energy-generating device, thereby allowing for an increase in efficiency for the production of energy. In some embodiments, the energy-generating device is a CSP thermal absorber. The CSP thermal absorber comprises a housing, a thermal barrier, a light-transparent reservoir containing a liquid alkali metal, at least one alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) cell, an artery return channel, and at least one heating unit. Each heating unit comprises a heating device and a metal fin. The metal fin is submerged into the liquid alkali metal, thereby allowing the heating device to heat the liquid alkali metal via the fin.

Abstract: A method of controlling ignition of a vehicle having a fuel cell system is provided. In particular, the method includes a step of determining an idling state of the vehicle, a step of determining whether to enable a fuel cell on/off mode, a step of determining a degree of water balance of a fuel cell stack, and a step of turning off a vehicle's ignition switch. More specifically, a fuel cell system controller determines whether to enable a fuel-cell on/off mode based on a coolant temperature of the fuel cell system once the idling state is determined, and also determines a degree of water balance of a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system controller turns off the vehicle's ignition switch, when a predetermined time passes, based on the degree of water balance.

Abstract: A window shade assembly including a shade tube configured to support a shade and extending longitudinally, a mounting bracket, a motor assembly extending within the shade tube and coupled to the shade tube, and a battery pack extending within the shade tube. A central axis extends longitudinally through the center of the shade tube. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the shade tube relative to the mounting bracket about the central axis to at least one of raise and lower the shade. The battery pack includes a battery housing and at least one battery. The battery housing couples the motor assembly with the mounting bracket and defines at least one battery bay. The at least one battery is carried within the at least one battery bay. The at least one battery is configured to store and provide energy to the motor assembly for rotating the shade tube.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case receiving the electrode assembly; a cap plate bonded to the case; a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode and protruded outside the cap plate; and a first current collector electrically connecting the first electrode and the first terminal, and the first current collector includes a first groove formed in a first surface facing toward the first electrode.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module can include a PV laminate, a frame coupled to a perimeter of the laminate, a junction box that includes a housing for an electrical connection between a plurality of PV cells of the laminate and a plurality of conductors, and an electronics enclosure coupled to the frame. In embodiments, the electronics enclosure can include electronic circuitry that is electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors and to another photovoltaic module.

Abstract: A system, a thermoelectric generator, and a method for generating electricity are provided. The system includes a thermoelectric generator, a cooling system, and a heating system. The cooling system includes a cold side module configured to hold a predetermined volume of air, a subterranean heat exchanger including an underground conduit, the underground conduit having a first end configured to receive ambient air and a second end coupled to the inlet of the cold side module, and an air exhaust coupled to the outlet of the cold side module and having one or more valves configured to control an airflow from the subterranean heat exchanger towards the air exhaust. The heating system includes a first solar concentrator to collect light rays, a hot side module, and a fiber optic cable to transport the collected light rays to the hot side module.

Abstract: An integrated gas management device (GMD) for a fuel cell has a gas-to-gas humidifier for transferring water from a second gas to a first gas; and a heat exchanger attached to a first end of the humidifier core for cooling the first gas. The GMD may optionally have a thermal isolation plate between the heat exchanger and the first end of the humidifier core. The GMD further has a bypass line to allow the first gas to bypass the humidifier. The first gas may be cathode charge air and the second gas may be cathode exhaust.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprises at least one photovoltaic cell and one concentration optic device, to be illuminated by a light flux emitting at at least one illumination wavelength belonging to a band of wavelengths defined by a minimum wavelength and a maximum wavelength, the band of wavelengths being that of the solar radiation of the order of [380 nm-1600 nm]. The concentration optic device is a monolithic component and comprises at least one diffractive structure comprising subwavelength patterns, defined in a structured material; the patterns having at least one dimension less than or equal to the average illumination wavelength divided by the refractive index of the structured material; the patterns being separated from one another by subwavelength distances, defined between centres of adjacent patterns; the concentration optic device ensuring at least one focusing function and one diffraction function. A solar panel comprising the photovoltaic module is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides the compound represented by Formula 1, an organic electric element comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic material layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electronic device thereof, and by comprising the compound represented by Formula 1 in the organic material layer, the driving voltage of the organic electronic device can be lowered, and the luminous efficiency and life time of the organic electronic device can be improved.

Abstract: A colored solar module includes a light incident side, a backside, and a photovoltaic cell positioned between the light incident side and the backside. A color layer extends across the light incident side of the colored solar module. The color layer includes a clear paint and a plurality of opaque reflecting pigments disposed within the clear paint. The composition of the opaque reflecting pigments in the color layer is between about 0.25 weight percent (wt %) and about 5.0 wt % and a comparative solar cell efficiencyof the colored solar module is equal to or greater than 70 %. A color difference between a first portion of the color layer positioned directly over the photovoltaic cell and a second portion of the color layer not positioned directly over the photovoltaic cell as measured in CIELAB color space is less than about 5.0.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include forming a plurality of pillar structures in a substrate, forming a first electrode layer on the pillar structures and forming a continuous photovoltaic stack including an N-type layer, a P-type layer and an intrinsic layer on the first electrode. A second electrode layer is deposited over the photovoltaic stack such that gaps or fissures occur in the second electrode layer between the pillar structures. The second electrode layer is wet etched to open up the gaps or fissures and reduce the second electrode layer to form a three-dimensional electrode of substantially uniform thickness over the photovoltaic stack.

Abstract: The solar cell includes a plurality of light-receiving-side finger electrodes on a light-receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion section having a semiconductor junction. The light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion section is covered with a first insulating layer. Each light-receiving-side finger electrodes include: a first metal seed layer provided between the photoelectric conversion section and the first insulating layer; and a first plating metal layer being conduction with the first metal seed layer through openings formed in the first insulating layer. The solar cell includes an isolated plating metal layer pieces contacting neither the light-receiving-side finger electrodes nor the back-side finger electrodes. On the surface of the first insulating layer, an isolated plating metal crowded region is present in a form of a band-shape extending parallel to an extending direction of the light-receiving-side finger electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic semiconductor compound that exhibits chemical resistance and etch resistance while maintaining electrical characteristics and thus is applicable to an existing photolithography process, thereby increasing process efficiency, and an organic semiconductor device using the same.

Abstract: An electrochemical pouch cell includes a pouch cell housing and an electrode assembly disposed in the housing. The housing is formed of a single blank that is progressively drawn to form first and second recesses in the sheet, where the first recess coincides with a portion of the second recess. The blank is then folded so that the recesses are aligned and open facing each other. The electrode assembly is disposed in the space defined within and between the recesses, and flange portions of the material surrounding the recesses are sealed together to form a sealed electrochemical cell in which one side of the cell is free of the flange. The progressive drawing process along with the configuration of the recesses allows the cell housing to have an increased depth relative to some conventional pouch cell housings.

Abstract: A lead assembly includes at plurality of drop line joined to a feeder cable at joints each having a compression lug that is preferably surrounded by undermolding and overmolding. In use, each drop line is connected to a solar array, and the feeder cable is connected to an inverter. In this manner a plurality of solar arrays are electrically coupled together, with a common feeder cable connecting them all to the inverter. A system of the present invention doesn't require a combiner box which is conventionally employed directly upstream of the inverter.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a window for generating electric energy. The window comprises a panel that is at least partially transmissive for visible light. The panel has a receiving surface for receiving incident light and is arranged such that a portion of the incident light is redirected towards regions that are at edges or side portions of the panel. The window further comprises a plurality of photovoltaic elements positioned at or in the proximity of the edges or side portions of the panel. Each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements is electrically parallel connected to another one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements and the window is arranged to generate the electricity from at least a portion of the redirected incident light.

Abstract: Compactable power generation arrays are provided. The compactable power generation arrays may include a structural substrate body having an array of solar concentrators configured to receive and re-direct solar radiation onto a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells. In many other embodiments the PV cells may be disposed upon a back surface of each of the solar concentrators such that an adjacent solar concentrator is configured to re-direct solar radiation onto the PV cell disposed on the back surface of the adjacent solar concentrator.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a polycrystalline absorber layer including Cu—Zn—Sn—S(Se) (CZTSSe) over a substrate. The absorber layer is rapid thermal annealed in a sealed chamber having elemental sulfur within the chamber. A sulfur content profile is graded in the absorber layer in accordance with a size of the elemental sulfur and an anneal temperature to provide a graduated bandgap profile for the absorber layer. Additional layers are formed on the absorber layer to complete the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic and radiant heating and cooling device is provided, wherein the device comprises a photovoltaic panel; a radiant heating and cooling panel; a first heat-exchanging pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the photovoltaic panel; a second heat-exchanging pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the radiant heating and cooling panel; and a thermal storage tank fluidly connecting the first and the second heat-exchanging pipes, wherein the tank is arranged between the first and second heat-exchanging pipes.