Abstract: A flexible method to provide a variety of value-added coatings to a piece of jewelry or a group of jewelries is disclosed. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) technique is implemented to deposit a layer of conformal coating on intended jewelry surfaces, including both exterior and interior surfaces, to enhance a vast majority of process-driven or end of use driven properties. The coating compositions include dielectrics material, metals, organic materials or organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The method steps of forming a layer of coating are straightforward and can be tailed to different purposes.

Abstract: The present invention describes a water surface maintenance and cleaning system which comprises a home base station and a plurality of cleaning robot. The home station is either fixed on the water bank or floating on the water surface as an island. The home station serves as a charging station and trash collection station. The home base station is covered with solar PV panels and the PV panels convert the sunlight into electricity and then store the electricity into the batteries. The self-driving cleaning robot boat, which floats on water surface and drives around and sweeps the water surface. While sweeping across the water surface, the robot boat which is equipped with motor, rotors, pumps, nets, containers, etc. can intake water and filter out trashes and any other environmental unfriendly substances such as plastic bottles, cans, leaves, algae, plants, bio-films, and oil/grease.

Abstract: A flexible method to provide a variety of value-added coatings to a piece of jewelry or a group of jewelries is disclosed. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) technique is implemented to deposit a layer of conformal coating on intended jewelry surfaces, including both exterior and interior surfaces, to enhance a vast majority of process-driven or end of use driven properties. The coating compositions include dielectrics material, metals, organic materials or organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The method steps of forming a layer of coating are straightforward and can be tailed to different purposes.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. A method of forming a luminescent material includes: (1) providing a source of A and X, wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group 1, and X is selected from at least one of elements of Group 17; (2) providing a source of B, wherein B is selected from at least one of elements of Group 14; (3) subjecting the source of A and X and the source of B to vacuum deposition to form a precursor layer over a substrate; (4) forming an encapsulation layer over the precursor layer to form an assembly of layers; and (5) heating the assembly of layers to a temperature Theat to form a luminescent material within the precursor layer.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators and related manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X?, and X? are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes: (1) a front contact; (2) a back contact; (3) a set of stacked layers between the front contact and the back contact; and (4) an encapsulation layer covering side surfaces of the set of stacked layers. At least one of the set of stacked layers includes a halide material having the formula: [AaBbXxX?x?X?x?X??x??][dopants], where A is selected from elements of Group 1 and organic moieties, B is selected from elements of Group 14, X, X?, X?, and X?? are independently selected from elements of Group 17, a is in the range of 1 to 12, b is in the range of 1 to 8, and a sum of x, x?, x?, and x?? is in the range of 1 to 12.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes a set of photovoltaic cells and a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the set of photovoltaic cells. The spectral concentrator is configured to: (1) collect incident solar radiation; (2) convert the incident solar radiation into substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation; and (3) convey the substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation to the set of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. A method of forming a luminescent material includes: (1) providing a source of A and X, wherein A is selected from at least one of elements of Group 1, and X is selected from at least one of elements of Group 17; (2) providing a source of B, wherein B is selected from at least one of elements of Group 14; (3) subjecting the source of A and X and the source of B to vacuum deposition to form a precursor layer over a substrate; (4) forming an encapsulation layer over the precursor layer to form an assembly of layers; and (5) heating the assembly of layers to a temperature Theat to form a luminescent material within the precursor layer.

Abstract: Described herein are optical devices including resonant cavity structures. In one embodiment, an optical fiber includes: (1) an elongated core including an outer surface; (2) an inner reflector disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the core and extending substantially along a length of the core; (3) an outer reflector spaced apart from the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core; and (4) an emission layer disposed between the outer reflector and the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core, the emission layer configured to emit radiation that is guided within the optical fiber.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX?x?X?x?], where the luminescent material is polycrystalline; A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X?, and X? are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 5; and at least X? is iodine, such that x?/(x+x?+x?)??.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method that includes forming a first layer comprising a first material over a surface of a second layer, wherein forming the first layer includes sequentially forming a plurality of monolayers of the second material over the surface of the second layer, the second layer comprises a plurality of rows of a second material extending along a first direction and spaced from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the first layer conforms to the surface of the second layer.

Abstract: Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes a set of photovoltaic cells and a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the set of photovoltaic cells. The spectral concentrator is configured to: (1) collect incident solar radiation; (2) convert the incident solar radiation into substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation; and (3) convey the substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation to the set of photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX?x?X?x?][dopant], wherein A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X?, and X? are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x?, and x? is a+2b; and at least X? is iodine, such that x?/(a+2b)??.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX?x?X?x?], where the luminescent material is polycrystalline; A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X?, and X? are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x?, and x? is in the range of 1 to 5; and at least X? is iodine, such that x?/(x+x?+x?)??.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials arc described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX?x?X?x?][dopant], wherein A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X?, and X? are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x?, and x? is a +2b; and at least X? is iodine, such that x?(a+2b)?1/5.