Abstract: A photodiode comprising a photoactive spinel oxide layer is described. This photoactive spinel oxide layer forms a contact with both a light absorption layer of quantum dots, quantum wires, or quantum rods, and an inorganic substrate layer. In some embodiments, the inorganic substrate layer and the photoactive spinel oxide layer form an isotype junction. Methods of characterizing the photodiode are provided and demonstrate commercially relevant electrical and optoelectronic properties, particularly the ability to operate as a photodetector with a high photosensitivity. An economical process for preparing the photodiode is provided as well as applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recalibrating a device for assessing concentration of at least one analyte ion in a liquid, the device having a plurality of ion selective electrodes (ISEs) generating a signal in response to sensing a selected ion in the liquid, and a data processing unit implementing a neural network algorithm that has been trained to calculate ion interference between the selected ion and other ions in the liquid sensed at one of the electrodes and/or electrode interference between ones of the electrodes sensing a same selected ion.

Abstract: An assembly includes a photovoltaic module including a solar cell and a cooling system including a heat pipe adapted to dissipate heat from the solar cell. A method includes dissipating heat from the solar cell using the heat pipe. The photovoltaic module may be disposed on a vehicle to convert solar energy into electricity.

Abstract: A battery includes an electrode body, a case, a positive electrode external terminal, a negative electrode external terminal, an insulator, and a connection bolt, and at least one external terminal of the positive electrode external terminal and the negative electrode external terminal includes an attachment portion and a plate portion. The connection bolt includes a bar-shaped body portion and a flange portion disposed at one end of the bar-shaped body portion, and is fastened to the plate portion in a state in which at least a portion of a roof portion of the insulator is fitted between the flange portion and the plate portion.

Abstract: A gas sensor element including a lead portion (79a) formed on a lower surface of an insulating member (76) and extending through a through hole (176) to an upper surface thereof, and a lead portion (79b) extending from the upper surface of the insulating member (76) through the through hole (176) to the lower surface of the insulating member (76) so as to cover the lead portion (79a) along the inner circumferential wall and a portion of the lower surface around the through hole. The lead portion (79a) has a section exposed to a space (230) on the lower surface side of the insulating member (76). The lead portion (79b) is disposed so as to face the insulating member (76) with the space (230) therebetween. The lead portion (79a) communicates with the outside through the space (230). Also disclosed is a method for producing the gas sensor element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) based on carbazole substituted by diphenylamine and used as organic hole conductors or hole transporting material in an optoelectronic or photoelectrochemical device, with (I), D being selected from formula (1) or (2):

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses without substantially increasing series resistance losses due to lateral flow of majority charge carriers. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a dot shape, for example.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fluorescent boron thienyldipyrromethene type compounds, their preparation process, as well as their use as an electron donor in the field of organic electronics, in particular for the production of a photoactive layer in photovoltaic cells of the bulk heterojunction type or for the production of field effect transistors.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator includes: a heat-receiving plate configured to receive heat; a cooling plate configured to be kept at a lower temperature than a temperature of the heat-receiving plate; and a thermoelectric generation module interposed between the heat-receiving plate and the cooling plate, in which the thermoelectric generation module includes: an opposed surface that is opposed to the cooling plate; a plurality of thermoelectric elements; a terminal configured to electrically conduct to the thermoelectric elements; and a lead member bonded to the terminal, in which the lead member penetrates the opposed surface and extends to the cooling plate.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an InGaAs buffer layer and an InGaAlAs grading interlayer disposed below, and adjacent to, the InGaAs buffer layer. The grading interlayer achieves a transition in lattice constant from one solar subcell to another solar subcell.

Abstract: A solar cell is provided that comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type; a first semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type, and on a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer on the first semiconductor layer; a protective layer on the insulation layer; and a second semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type, and on the semiconductor substrate and the protective layer. A recessed region is positioned at a lateral side of the insulation layer, the recessed region formed by recessing a side surface of the insulation layer inward from a side surface of the first semiconductor layer and a side surface of the protective layer, and the second semiconductor layer is positioned in the recessed region above the first semiconductor layer in the recessed region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (20), comprising: a liquid container (21) for containing a liquid; a capillary-stop valve (22) that is in medium through flow connection with said liquid container (21) for stopping said liquid in said container from flowing out of said container via said capillary-stop valve (22); a first electrode (7) being arranged such that in use said first electrode is in contact with said liquid in said liquid container; a second electrode (2) that is spaced apart from said capillary-stop valve by an electrically insulating medium gap (24), and a voltage source (V) connected to said first and second electrode which is activatable for applying an electric potential difference at the first and second electrode such that the liquid in the liquid container is attracted in the direction of said second electrode so as to allow the liquid to overcome the stopping effect of the capillary-stop valve for discharging liquid from said liquid container via said capillary-stop valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for tunable photonic harvesting for solar energy conversion and dynamic shading tolerance are provided herein. A method includes determining one or more of multiple portions of a solar photovoltaic module that are underperforming in relation to separate portions of the solar photovoltaic module; configuring multiple reflective surfaces to produce a given configuration of the multiple reflective surfaces in relation to a surface of the solar photovoltaic module based on said determining; collecting (i) direct solar radiation and (ii) diffuse solar radiation incident on a plurality of the multiple reflective surfaces; and distributing (i) the collected direct solar radiation and (ii) the collected diffuse solar radiation across the multiple portions of the solar photovoltaic module in a targeted manner based on the given configuration of the multiple reflective surfaces to offset the underperforming portions of the solar photovoltaic module by a given amount.

Abstract: Triazole-based molecules, methods of making and using the same are provided. Triazole-based molecules may be used as reading molecules and incorporated into or operatively-linked with electrodes, for example, and used in recognition tunneling systems to identify individual and/or sequences of molecules (e.g., DNA bases, carbohydrates, proteins, peptides, and/or amino-acids).

Abstract: An system for recognition of a translocating polymeric target molecule includes a device having at least one constriction that is sized to permit translocation of only a single copy of the molecule. A pair of spaced apart sensing electrodes border the constriction, which may be a nanopore. The first electrode is connected to a first affinity element and the second electrode is connected to a second affinity element. Each affinity element may connected to its corresponding electrode via one or more intermediary compounds, such as a linker molecule and/or an electrode attachment molecule. The first and second affinity elements are configured to temporarily form hydrogen bonds with first and second portions of the target molecule as the latter passes through the constriction. During translocation, the electrodes affinity elements and first and second portions of the target molecule complete an electrical circuit and allow a measurable electrical current to pass between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a photovoltaic module, the photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a controllable infrared protection layer, and a protection switching means. The controllable infrared protection layer is for reducing the infrared radiation absorbed by the photovoltaic module, where the controllable infrared protection layer has a first state and a second state. When the infrared protection layer is in the first state the transmission of infrared radiation to the photovoltaic cells is higher than when the infrared protection layer is in the second state. The protection switching means is for switching the controllable infrared protection layer between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: A flat plate type solid oxide fuel cell stack module is obtained by stacking a plurality of flat plate type solid oxide fuel cell stack units. Each of the cell stack unit comprises an anode plate, a cell unit and a cathode plate. The anode plate has a first flow channel, four corner first fuel input holes and a central first fuel output hole. The cathode plate has a second flow channel, a plurality of lateral second air input grooves and a plurality of lateral second air output grooves. The cell unit includes an anode layer, a cathode plate, four corner third fuel input holes and a central third fuel output hole. An anode mental net and an anode sealing material are disposed between the anode plate and the cell unit, a cathode mental net and a cathode sealing material are disposed between the cathode plate and the cell unit.

Abstract: Fabrication methods and structures relating to backplanes for back contact solar cells that provide for solar cell substrate reinforcement and electrical interconnects are described. The method comprises depositing an interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes on a backside surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming electrically conductive emitter plugs and base plugs on the interdigitated pattern, and attaching a backplane having a second interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes at the conductive emitter and base plugs to form electrical interconnects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell assembly comprising at least one first solar cell and at least one discrete protective diode (101) that is connected to the solar cell. The aim of the invention is to comprehensively protect a solar cell, a solar cell composite or a string of cells by means of one or more protective diodes, without resorting to the use of the material of the solar cells. To achieve this, in addition to a front and a rear contact (13, 15), the protective diode comprises an additional contact (14) that is placed at a distance from the front contact and is electrically connected to said contact via a p/n junction. A connector leads from the additional contact to a second solar cell, the latter in turn being connected to the first solar cell in a string.

Abstract: A system and method for a microinverter mounting assembly including a microinverter assembly and a panel direct current (DC) connector. The microinverter assembly having a housing, a microinverter disposed within the housing, and a microinverter DC connector disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the microinverter, the microinverter DC connector with a bottom panel having a locking recess formed therein and at least one electrical contact disposed within an opening formed in the bottom panel. The panel DC connector having a mounting substrate, a locking tab extending from the mounting substrate, and at least one electrical contact positioned on the mounting substrate. Further, the locking tab of the panel DC connector interfits within the locking recess of the microinverter DC connector to form a locking mechanism that prevents rotation of the microinverter DC connector when in a locked position.