Abstract: An ITO film as a transparent conductive film is formed on a semiconductor layer comprising an amorphous semiconductor or a microcrystalline semiconductor, a comb-like collecting electrode is formed on the ITO film, and a cover glass containing alkaline ions is placed on the ITO film and collecting electrode with a resin film made of EVA between them. The (222) plane orientation degree of the ITO film (transparent conductive film) is not less than 1.0, preferably not less than 1.2 and not more than 2.6, and more preferably not less than 1.4 and not more than 2.5. Alternatively, the transparent conductive film has an orientation of (321) planes on the boundary side with respect to the semiconductor layer and mainly an orientation of (222) planes in the remaining portion. When the total thickness of the ITO film is 100 nm, the (321)/(222) diffraction strength ratio in a 10 nm-thick portion on the semiconductor layer side is not less than 0.5 and not more than 2.5.

Abstract: The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device which serves for moving and dosing amounts of liquid on a microscopic scale with a volume of especially 10?12 to 10?6 liters by means of an inhomogeneous electric field using a support having an ultraphobic surface.

Abstract: A method and a device for converting energy uses chemical reactions in close proximity to or on a surface to convert a substantial fraction of the available chemical energy of the shorter lived energized products, such as vibrationally excited chemicals and hot electrons, directly into a useful form, such as longer lived charge carriers in a semiconductor. The carriers store the excitation energy in a form that may be converted into other useful forms, such as electricity, nearly monochromatic electromagnetic radiation or carriers for stimulating other surface reactions.

Abstract: A continuous-flow filter/concentrator for separating and/or concentrating particles in a fluid is disclosed. The filter is a three-port device an inlet port, an filter port and a concentrate port. The filter separates particles into two streams by the ratio of their dielectrophoretic mobility to their electrokinetic, advective, or diffusive mobility if the dominant transport mechanism is electrokinesis, advection, or diffusion, respectively. Also disclosed is a device for separating and/or concentrating particles by dielectrophoretic trapping of the particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the electrophoretic separation of particles, especially of macromolecules, comprising the steps of applying the particles to be separated on a substrate supported membrane, such that the particles are mobile across the surface of the substrate supported membrane; providing an electrical field such that electrical fields are formed along the surface across which the particles are mobile; and temporarily modifying the electrical field and/or adding a substrate supported membrane having a structured surface, wherein the direction and/or the strength of the electrical field are temporarily modified and/or wherein the substrate supported membrane is structured so that a force is acting on the particles that leads to a movement depending on the length of the particles. Moreover, a substrate is provided, in particular, for supporting a membrane during the performing of the inventive methods, that comprises an optically transparent material.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic cell integrated onto an active card, such as a greeting card or “smart” card, may be fabricated separately and then integrated with additional electronics on the active card. Alternatively, the photovoltaic cell may be fabricated on the active card itself, constituting, if desired, part or all of its surface design.

Abstract: Between a light receiving glass and a backside glass a plurality of solar battery cells form a matrix of solar battery cells and a translucent, intermediate layer of film is also interposed to configure a photovoltaic module having a light receptive, glass laminate structure, wherein at least one of a back surface of the solar battery cell and a front surface of the backside glass observed indoors has a film stuck thereon. For a photovoltaic module having a light receptive, multi-layer structure, a glass observed indoors also has a film stuck thereon. The solar battery cell can thus have a back surface with a lead frame, a mark of paste applied for collection of electricity covered with the film to provide an improved, externally observed design and an increased product value.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprises: an anode electrode including a conductive support and a porous semiconductor layer; a photosensitive dye; a charge transport layer; and a counter electrode support, wherein the anode electrode has the property of causing cathode luminescence having a luminous peak wavelength in a visible region and shows a haze rate H of 60% or more at a wavelength in the visible region.

Abstract: A multielevational cover for assembling a fluid retaining chamber on a face of an electrophoresis cassette is presented. The cover comprises a cassette-containing member, at least one chamber-defining member, and sealing means, typically sealing means that are capable of reversible attachment. Also presented are methods for contacting cassette-immobilized gels to desired fluids by assembling a fluid retaining chamber upon the cassette using the covers of the present invention.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly comprising a plurality of elongated solar cells is provided. Each solar cell in the plurality of cells comprises a conductive core configured as a first electrode, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the conductive core, and a TCO layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The plurality of solar cells is arranged in a parallel manner in pairs on a transparent insulating substrate such that (i) the solar cells in each respective pair are joined together lengthwise by a corresponding counter-electrode, and (ii) solar cells adjacent pairs of solar cells do not touch each other. Each solar cell pair is affixed to the transparent insulating substrate. A first and second solar cell pair is electrically connected in series by an electrical contact that electrically connects the first electrode of each cell in the first pair to the corresponding counter-electrode of the second pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye sensitized solar cell comprising an n-type semiconductor electrode containing a dye, an opposed electrode, and a gel electrolyte arranged between the n-type semiconductor and the opposed electrode and containing a gelling agent and an electrolyte that contains iodine, wherein the gelling agent contains a compound including an N-containing group and at least one atomic group selected from a group consisting of a sulfonic group and a carboxylic group.

Abstract: A cylindrical TPV generator uses low bandgap PV cells mounted on circuits in a polygonal array around an IR emitter. A low NOx radiant tube burner enables operation at low NOx. The combustion gases are completely contained within the radiant tube burner. A gap is provided between a recuperator and an inner flame tube of a dual tube SiC folded back recuperator assembly. Preheating combustion air in the recuperator allows for flameless oxidation. The gap allows for exhaust gas recirculation to complete combustion. The PV array is mounted inside a leak-tight envelope cooled on its outer surface by either water or air flow. Flanges on either end of this PV array container allow for hermetic seals. A folded back coaxial emitter support tube provides a long path length limiting thermal conduction along its cylindrical wall from the very hot emitter section to the cooled seal flange.

Abstract: To provide a stacked photovoltaic device including: at least one pair of a first photovoltaic device and a second photovoltaic device stacked in order from a light incident side; and a selective reflection layer formed between the at least one pair of the first photovoltaic device and the second photovoltaic device and adapted to electrically connect therebetween, in which the selective reflection layer has a sheet resistance of 100 k?/? or more and 100 M?/? or less.

Abstract: Methods of use, accessories and chambers, optimal for performing Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA molecules in ‘Contour Clamped Homogeneous Electric Field’ (CHEF) and ‘Transversal Alternating Field Electrophoresis’ (TAFE) systems, are provided herein. DNA molecules are rapidly separated in the minigels of these chambers. The sizes of chambers and accessories are determined by the separation between the opposite polarity electrodes; which is comprised between 6.2 and 15 cm. Reproducibility of molecule separation is achieved because the accessories warrant homogeneous electric resistance in the buffer and minigels. Chambers allow a high-throughput sample format using the reagents efficiently. It is attained excluding the non-useful electrophoresis zones For a better optimization, TAFE chambers have several useful electrophoresis zones (UEZ), each carrying a minigel.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a method of scoring the coating of a first coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and melt at least a portion of the first base material. In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of forming a photovoltaic module by scoring a coating of a first coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and melt at least a portion of the first base material; scoring a coating of a second coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and at least a portion of the second base material; and joining the first and second base materials to form a photovoltaic module.

Abstract: A solar cell having foil electrodes. Specifically, a metal foil is implemented to form electrodes providing a reduced electron path from a dye-sensitized semiconductor material to the electrodes. In one embodiment, nanowires extending from the substrate on which the solar cell is formed are provided. In another embodiment, cavities are formed in a sheet of conductive foil by oxidation, thereby forming a semiconductive material. The semiconductive material is sensitized with a dye and an electrolyte solution is disposed in the cavities, thereby forming an array of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Abstract: A method for making a solar cell from crystalline silicon, and a solar cell made from crystalline silicon produced according to the method. Neighboring pxnx junctions are electrically insulated by simultaneously introducing a p- and an n-conductive dopant layer. The interleaved contact fingers of the solar cell are electrically insulated with respect to one another by providing contiguous regions with different dopings.

Abstract: The invention is a method of performing electrophoresis that increases sample throughput and increases the efficiency and speed of the analysis of polynucleotides by electrophoresis. The method is performed by loading and running multiple sequential samples on each capillary gel without flushing or replacing the gel between samples.

Abstract: A sample handling system in a multi-channel capillary electrophoresis apparatus is disclosed. The sample handling system includes a work surface for supporting a plurality of samples located at a plurality of work surface coordinates and a sample loading assembly comprising a plurality of loading wells. At least one of the loading wells includes a capillary fixedly positioned therein. The system further includes a programmable sample transfer device for automatically transferring a sample from a work surface coordinate to a loading well. The invention further includes methods for using the sample handling system.