Abstract: Improved protection systems for CIGS-based microelectronic devices of the type incorporating electric conductor(s) such as an electronic collection grid. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a photovoltaic device having a light incident surface and a backside surface. The device includes a chalcogenide-containing photovoltaic layer comprising at least one of copper, indium and/or gallium. A transparent conductive layer is interposed between the photovoltaic layer and the light incident surface, wherein the transparent conductive layer is electrically coupled to the photovoltaic layer. An electronic collection grid is electrically coupled to the transparent conductive layer and overlying at least a portion of the transparent conductive layer.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a phase compensation film that includes nano-particles of a cross-linked polymer with a largest dimension of a quarter of a wavelength of visible light or less, and a liquid crystal substance imbibed substantially throughout the cross-linked polymer of the nano-particles to provide a phase compensation value for a pixel of a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a small scale functional material, where the small scale functional material is imbibed with a material having a functionality response to an externally applied field.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer microfiller composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and a microfiller, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer microfiller composite.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer carbon composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and a carbon filler, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer carbon composite.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and a pi-bond-philic filler, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite. The instant invention also generally provides a process of separating a pi-bond-philic gas from a separable gas mixture comprising the pi-bond-philic gas.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer inorganic clay composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and an inorganic clay, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer inorganic clay composite.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer inorganic-particulate composite fiber comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and an inorganic-particulate, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer inorganic-particulate composite fiber.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer organoclay composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and an organoclay, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer organoclay composite.

Abstract: Laminate structures comprising one or more sheets of material bonded together with an adhesive polymer. The adhesive polymer is a polyester amide, polyester urethane, or polyester urea.

Abstract: A process for fabricating fibers, including nano-scale fibers, comprising electrospinning a melt of a self assembling material and fibers fabricated by the process are disclosed.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides an activated polymer composition containing an active agent (i.e., a chemically- or biologically-active agent), an activated fiber comprising the activated polymer composition, an activated-fiber composite comprising the activated fiber and a fiberweb support, processes of fabricating the activated fiber and activated-fiber composition, and an article comprising the activated polymer composition. The instant invention also generally provides a highly filled polymer filler composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling (MSA) material and a mineral filler or conductive filler dispersed in the MSA material, and a process of making and article comprising the highly filled polymer filler composite.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a process for fabricating fibers and nonwoven webs, preferably sub-micron fibers and nonwoven webs, comprising electroblowing a fluid comprising a self-assembling material, and articles made therefrom.

Abstract: This invention is a method for fabricating fibers by melt-blowing a melt of a molecularly self-assembling material, the melt being at a temperature of from 130° C. to 220° C., thereby forming a fiber set having a distribution of fiber diameters wherein at least 95% of the fibers have a diameter of less than about 3 microns. The invention further comprises collecting the fiber set so as to form a fibrous non-woven web.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides a porous filter medium, a porous composite filter medium, a filter assembly, processes of making the same, and processes suitable for filtering contaminants from liquids.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermoplastic hydroxy-functional polyesters. The polyesters have at least 10 sequential units, wherein the sequential units consist of units selected from units represented by the following formula (1) and units represented by the following formula (2); Wherein each of R1 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; each of R2 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; each of R3 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; Each of R4 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; and said moiety having no fewer than 1 unit represented by formula (1) and no fewer than 1 unit represented by formula (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides network polymers obtained by curing compositions that comprise an ester with at least two terminal epoxy groups. Preferred esters include those represented by the formula (1), wherein each R1 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoaliphatic or heteroaliphatic group; A represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkylene, hetemalkylene, arylene, or heteroarylene segment; and n represents an integer equal to or greater than 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermoplastic hydroxy-functional polyesters. The polyesters have at least 10 sequential units, wherein the sequential units consist of units selected from units represented by the following formula (1) and units represented by the following formula (2); Wherein each of R1 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; each of R2 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; each of R3 independently represents hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; Each of R4 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkyl or heteroalkyl group; and said moiety having no fewer than 1 unit represented by formula (1) and no fewer than 1 unit represented by formula (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides network polymers obtained by curing compositions that comprise an ester with at least two terminal epoxy groups. Preferred esters include those represented by the formula (1), wherein each R1 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoaliphatic or hctcroaliphatic group; A represents a substituted or unsubstituted homoalkylene, hetemalkylene, arylene, or hetematylene segment; and n represents an integer equal to or greater than 2.

Abstract: The present invention is a amorphous saturated hydrocarbon thermoplastic substrate having enhanced adhesion properties, wherein the enhanced adhesion properties are obtained by treating the surface of the amorphous saturated hydrocarbon thermoplastic substrate with an excited gas phase technique, such that a critical surface energy of at least 35 dyne/cm is obtained without the use of acids or other corrosive materials which cause equipment degradation.