Abstract: A photovoltaic panel system for assembly to an outdoor column which is ergonomic in design, modular in structure and has features of connection that are protected from the outdoor elements. The assembly comprises one or more housings, each housing comprising a photovoltaic panel extending between two collars and each collar being hinged to allow the collars to be placed around the column. The also includes an extension section extending beyond one collar at one end of the housing, and which has means to secure the section to the column and having a dimension of less than each collar. The collar of one housing extends over the extension piece of the neighboring housing to cover the column securement means and protect the securement means from the outside environment.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a solar cell, a photoelectric conversion element, which has a surface whose outer periphery is surrounded by a plurality of sides, and a coating having light diffusivity are prepared. The coating is applied to an outer peripheral area of the surface by screen printing in a direction from a lower side, which is one of the sides, toward an upper side, which is one of the sides and which is opposed to the lower side such that an application amount of the coating to be applied along the lower side is smaller than an application amount of the coating to be applied along the upper side.

Abstract: A solar cell system includes a number of P-N junction cells, a number of inner electrodes, a first collecting electrode, a second collecting electrode and a reflector. The number of the P-N junction cells is M. M is equal to or greater than 2. The M P-N junction cells are arranged from a first P-N junction cell to an Mth P-N junction cell along the straight line. The P-N junction cells are arranged in series along a straight line. The number of the inner electrodes is M?1. At least one inner electrode includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. A photoreceptive surface is parallel to the straight line. A reflector is located on an emitting surface opposite to the photoreceptive surface.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type film having a perovskite structure, the p-type film including Co; an n-type film having a perovskite structure, the n-type film including Ti; first and second i-type films configured to be arranged to face each other across the n-type film, the first and second i-type films having a perovskite structure and including Ti; and a barrier film configured to be interposed between a multilayer body and the p-type film, the barrier film having a perovskite structure and including Zr, the multilayer body including the n-type film and the first and second i-type films.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate formed of n-type single crystal silicon, an emitter region of a p-type which is positioned at a first surface of the substrate and includes a first emitter region having a first sheet resistance and a second emitter region having a second sheet resistance less than the first sheet resistance, a plurality of surface field regions of the n-type locally positioned at a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes which are positioned only on the second emitter region to be separated from one another and are connected to the second emitter region, and a plurality of second electrodes which are positioned on the plurality of surface field regions to be separated from one another and are connected to the plurality of surface field regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible thermoelectric module apparatus, and more particularly, to a flexible thermoelectric module apparatus including a heat sink longitudinally extending and a thermoelectric module disposed in the heat sink, in which the heat sink has a pipe-shaped body constituting a main body and a hole longitudinally formed through the center portion of the body, the thermoelectric module has a plurality of thermoelectric plates, the thermoelectric plates are plates having predetermined length and width, are arranged longitudinally in parallel with the heat sink, with a first side in the width direction connected to the inner side of the body and a second side disposed inside the hole, are arranged in parallel with each other at circumferentially predetermined distances from each other in the hole, and have a predetermined angle to the radial direction of the heat sink such that they are inclined at a predetermined angle therebetween.

Abstract: A solar cell apparatus in which contamination of solar cells is suppressed and a power generation quantity of the solar cells is maintained for a long period of time, even if the solar cell apparatus is disposed outside. The apparatus is provided with: a light transmitting plastic material; a light transmitting back sheet; a plurality of bifacial solar cells that are electrically connected to each other by means of interconnectors; and a transparent filled resin that surrounds the solar cells. The light transmitting plastic material has a curved surface, and is capable of constituting a hermetically closed space by being fixed to a disposition region of a body having the solar cell apparatus disposed thereon. The light transmitting back sheet, the solar cells, and the transparent filled resin are disposed in the hermetically closed space.

Abstract: A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) comprising a porous isolating substrate (30) having a first surface and a second surface, a first porous layer (14) comprising conducting particles printed on the first surface of the porous isolating substrate to form a conductive porous layer, a second porous layer (16) comprising conducting particles printed on the second surface of the porous isolating substrate to form a conductive porous layer, whereby the porous isolating substrate is disposed between the first and second porous layers, a third porous layer (18) comprising light absorbing dye molecules deposited on the first porous layer, and a charge transfer medium for transferring charges between the third and first porous layers.

Abstract: An oxadiazole dye for use as an organic photosensitizer. The oxadiazole dye comprising donor-?-spacer-acceptor type molecules in which at least one of an oxadiazole group acts as a ?-conjugated bridge (spacer), a naphthyl unit acts as an electron-donating unit, a carboxyl group act as an electron acceptor group, and a cyano group acts as an anchor group. An optional thiophene group acts as part of the ?-conjugated bridge (spacer). The dye for use as organic photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye for use in photodynamic therapies. Computational DFT and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) modeling techniques showing Light Harvesting Efficiency (LHE), Free Energy for Electron Injection (?Ginject), Excitation Energies, and Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) indicate that the series of dye comprise a more negative ?Ginject and a higher LHE value; resulting in a higher incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE).

Abstract: A solar cell module according to the embodiment includes a back electrode layer formed on a top surface of a support substrate and including a first groove; a light absorbing layer formed on the back electrode layer and including a third groove; a front electrode layer formed on the light absorbing layer and including the third groove; and a wavelength conversion material formed in at least one of the first and third grooves.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink includes at least one thermoelectric leg pair having a first leg including an n-type semiconductor material and a second leg including a p-type semiconductor material. The first leg and the second leg are electrically coupled in series. A resistive element electrically couples the first leg and the second leg between the heat source and the heat sink.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate formed of n-type single crystal silicon, an emitter region of a p-type which is positioned at a first surface of the substrate and includes a first emitter region having a first sheet resistance and a second emitter region having a second sheet resistance less than the first sheet resistance, a plurality of surface field regions of the n-type locally positioned at a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes which are positioned only on the second emitter region to be separated from one another and are connected to the second emitter region, and a plurality of second electrodes which are positioned on the plurality of surface field regions to be separated from one another and are connected to the plurality of surface field regions.

Abstract: A flexible solar panel module is provided having a plurality of non-flexible solar panels, a plurality of non-flexible covers and a flexible back sheet. Each of the non-flexible solar panels has a photoreactive device layer, a positive ribbon and a negative ribbon. The non-flexible covers correspond to the non-flexible solar panels respectively and are disposed on front surfaces of the non-flexible solar panels. Each of the non-flexible covers is bigger in size than each of the non-flexible solar panels. The flexible back sheet is disposed under back surfaces of the non-flexible solar panels and has a plurality of openings therein. A first water-resistant sealant is disposed between adjacent non-flexible covers and physically contacts the flexible back sheet. A second water-resistant sealant is disposed between the non-flexible covers and the flexible back sheet and covers sidewalls of the non-flexible solar panels.

Abstract: An oxadiazole dye for use as an organic photosensitizer. The oxadiazole dye comprising donor-?-spacer-acceptor type molecules in which at least one of an oxadiazole group acts as a ?-conjugated bridge (spacer), a naphthyl unit acts as an electron-donating unit, a carboxyl group act as an electron acceptor group, and a cyano group acts as an anchor group. An optional thiophene group acts as part of the ?-conjugated bridge (spacer). The dye for use as organic photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell. The dye for use in photodynamic therapies. Computational DFT and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) modeling techniques showing Light Harvesting Efficiency (LHE), Free Energy for Electron Injection (?Ginject), Excitation Energies, and Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) indicate that the series of dye comprise a more negative ?Ginject and a higher LHE value; resulting in a higher incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye-sensitized solar cell module (1) which comprises at least two dye-sensitized solar cell units (2a-c) arranged adjacent to each other and connected in series. The dye-sensitized solar cell module comprises a porous insulating substrate (7), the first conducting layer (4) is a porous conducting layer formed on one side of the porous insulating substrate, and the second conducting layer (5) is a porous conducting layer formed on the opposite side of the porous insulating substrate. A series connecting element (6) is penetrating through the porous insulating substrate and extending between the first conducting layer of one of the cell units and the second conducting layer of the adjacent cell unit, thereby electrically connecting the first conducting layer of one of the cell units with the second conducting layer of the adjacent cell unit. This invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell module.

Abstract: A solar energy converter comprising: a solar energy absorber, the solar energy absorber comprising a photovoltaic element; a heat transfer element in thermal contact with the solar energy absorber; a primary heat exchanger in thermal contact with the heat transfer element; a secondary heat exchanger; and a heat transfer control element; wherein the heat transfer control element is arranged to selectively place the secondary heat exchanger either in thermal contact with the heat transfer element or out of thermal contact with the heat transfer element.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device includes a window layer and an absorber layer disposed on the window layer, wherein the absorber layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region disposed adjacent to the window layer. The absorber layer further includes a first additive and a second additive, wherein a concentration of the first additive in the first region is greater than a concentration of the first additive in the second region, and wherein a concentration of the second additive in the second region is greater than a concentration of the second additive in the first region. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also provided.

Abstract: A solar cell according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate; a first dopant layer formed at one surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a first electrode electrically connected to the first dopant layer. At least a part of the first dopant layer includes a pre-amorphization element, and a concentration of the pre-amorphization element in one portion of the first dopant layer is different from a concentration of the pre-amorphization element in another portion of the first dopant layer.

Abstract: The invention includes a parabolic solar concentrator typified by a highly integrated structure whereby, mirror, aerodynamic elements, a shell structure, cooling elements and other elements have been integrated to form a unibody structure, which is both stiffer and lighter than traditional trough structures. The invention includes; aerodynamic features that greatly limit lift forces induced by high speed winds, a receiver with liquid cooling for better control of PV cell temperatures and which allows for the collection of the heat for beneficial use, accommodations for a solar tracker, and improvements in the focusing and distribution of light using secondary mirrors. The receiver incorporates specific details to improve heat transfer and reduce parasitic pumping loads and incorporates secondary mirrors to increase light acceptance angles. Automated mirror washing is addressed.