Abstract: Disclosed herein in is a radiative cooling formulation comprising a first component with >55% reflectance in a wavelengths range of 0.3 to 2.5 microns, a second component with >0.85 peak thermal emissivity in a window range of 4 to 35 microns, and a third component to mechanically bind together a mixture of the first and second components.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a radiative cooling formulation, an apparatus including a substrate coated with the radiative cooling formulation, and a method of applying a coating of the radiative cooling formulation to an object. In one implementation, a radiative cooling formulation includes a binder which includes a first polymer and a second polymer that are practically water insoluble and are substantially non-absorbing to light having wavelengths in a solar spectrum. The radiative cooling formulation further includes a solar reflector material embedded in the binder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a radiative cooling formulation, an apparatus including a substrate coated with the radiative cooling formulation, and a method of applying a coating of the radiative cooling formulation to an object. In one implementation, a radiative cooling formulation includes a binder which includes a first polymer and a second polymer that are practically water insoluble and are substantially non-absorbing to light having wavelengths in a solar spectrum. The radiative cooling formulation further includes a solar reflector material embedded in the binder.

Abstract: A structure has a substrate, a first material on the substrate, the first material having a binder and a first active material, periodically located trapezoidal voids that only partially extend from a top of the first active material towards the substrate, and an electrolyte material filling the trapezoidal voids.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes at least one axle, an energy storage device disposed within the hybrid vehicle, a fuel consuming engine, a power boosting feature, and a controller. The fuel consuming engine is operably connected to selectively provide power to at least one of the energy storage device and the at least one axle. The engine is capable of providing at least the mean but less than a peak power to drive the hybrid vehicle over a typical route. The power boosting feature is configured to provide the fuel consuming engine with additional power to achieve a desired power to accelerate the hybrid vehicle. The controller is adapted to selectively control power flow to the one or more axles from one or more of the energy storage device, the engine, and the power boosting feature to achieve the desired power.

Abstract: An extrusion device has a stack of at least two layers, the stack including an outlet, an inlet for a first material, and a feed channel for the first material arranged to fluidically connect to the inlet for the first material, the feed channel having a sloped end. A method of manufacturing an extrusion device includes forming an outlet, an inlet for a first material and a feed channel for the first material having a sloped end in a stack of layers, aligning the stack of layers to fluidically connect the feed channel for the first material with the inlet for the first material and to fluidically connect the inlet for the first material with the outlet, and bonding the layers together.

Abstract: An electrochemical separator film includes a polymer, and particles of a first inorganic material having a first particle size suspended in the polymer. An electrochemical cell structure, includes at least one electrode on a substrate, and a separator film residing on top of the electrode, wherein the separator film comprises a polymer, and particles of a first inorganic material having a first particle size suspended in the polymer. A method of manufacturing a separator film, includes combining a polymer with a solvent for the polymer to form a polymer solution, mixing particles of a first inorganic material with the polymer, the particles having a first particle size to produce a separator mixture, depositing the separator mixture onto a substrate, and drying the separator mixture until the solvent and non-solvent are no longer present forming the separator film.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes at least one axle, an energy storage device disposed within the hybrid vehicle, a fuel consuming engine, a power boosting feature, and a controller. The fuel consuming engine is operably connected to selectively provide power to at least one of the energy storage device and the at least one axle. The engine is capable of providing at least the mean but less than a peak power to drive the hybrid vehicle over a typical route. The power boosting feature is configured to provide the fuel consuming engine with additional power to achieve a desired power to accelerate the hybrid vehicle. The controller is adapted to selectively control power flow to the one or more axles from one or more of the energy storage device, the engine, and the power boosting feature to achieve the desired power.

Abstract: A structure at least one stripe of material having a length, wherein a first stripe has a varying width along the length.

Abstract: A solar cell extrusion printing system that uses a micro-extrusion printhead to print longer central gridlines and one or more pairs of shorter “side” gridlines such that end points of the gridline sets form step patterns on an octagonal (pseudo-square) substrate. The printhead includes a set of central nozzles that receive ink from a first valve by way of a first flow channel to print the longer central gridlines, and additional sets of side nozzles that receive ink from additional valves by way of additional flow channels to print the shorter “side” gridlines. The central nozzles have outlet orifices that offset in the process direction from side outlet orifices of the side nozzles. A start signal is simultaneously sent to the valves such that ink is substantially simultaneously extruded through both the central and side orifices, whereby the extruded ink produces gridline endpoints having the desired step pattern.

Abstract: An H-pattern solar cell structure includes at least one busbar disposed in a first direction on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and parallel gridlines formed on the semiconductor substrate such that each gridline extends over and contacts each busbar, wherein each gridline includes a central gridline portion and at least one endpoint structure disposed on at least one end thereof, the endpoint structure having a nominal width that is at least 1.5 times the width of the central gridline portion. The gridlines are co-extruded with a sacrificial material such that a base portion of each gridline forms a flattened structure with sacrificial material formed thereon. The endpoint structures are formed such that Each central gridline portion forms a raised vertex portion extending upward from the upper surface of each busbar.

Abstract: A system may include an optical element including a surface defining a recess, conductive material disposed within the recess, and a solder mask disposed over a portion of the conductive material. The solder mask may define an aperture through which light from the optical element may pass. Some aspects provide creation of an optical element including a surface defining a recess, deposition of conductive material on the surface such that a portion of the deposited conductive material is disposed within the recess, and substantial planarization of the surface to expose the portion of the conductive material disposed within the recess.

Abstract: A micro-extrusion printhead assembly utilized in a micro-extrusion system to form parallel extruded lines of material on a substrate includes a material feed mechanism for pushing/drawing materials out of dispensing orifices defined in the printhead assembly, a Z-axis positioning mechanism, and a base. A production method utilizes the micro-extrusion system to directly print endpoint structures at the end of each gridline, and by extruding these gridlines immediately after forming the busbars. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the micro-extrusion system is controlled to manipulate the printhead speed and/or gridline material extrusion pressure at the beginning, middle and end of each gridline printing process such that teardrop-shaped endpoint structures are formed at the ends of each gridline, whereby each endpoint structure has a substantially greater width than that of the main “central” gridline structure extending between the endpoint structures.

Abstract: A solar cell extrusion printing system that uses a micro-extrusion printhead to print longer central gridlines and one or more pairs of shorter “side” gridlines such that end points of the gridline sets form step patterns on an octagonal (pseudo-square) substrate. The printhead includes a set of central nozzles that receive ink from a first valve by way of a first flow channel to print the longer central gridlines, and additional sets of side nozzles that receive ink from additional valves by way of additional flow channels to print the shorter “side” gridlines. The central nozzles have outlet orifices that offset in the process direction from side outlet orifices of the side nozzles. A start signal is simultaneously sent to the valves such that ink is substantially simultaneously extruded through both the central and side orifices, whereby the extruded ink produces gridline endpoints having the desired step pattern.

Abstract: A solar cell production method involves printing longer central gridlines and one or more pairs of shorter “side” gridlines such that end points of the two gridline sets form step patterns on octagonal (pseudo-square) substrates. A special printhead is used that includes a set of central nozzles which receive ink from a first valve by way of a first flow channel to print the longer central gridlines, and additional sets of side nozzles that receive ink from additional valves by way of additional flow channels to print the shorter “side” gridlines. The central nozzles have outlet orifices that offset in the process direction from side outlet orifices of the side nozzles. A start signal is simultaneously sent to the valves such that ink is substantially simultaneously extruded through both the central and side orifices, whereby the extruded ink produces gridline endpoints having the desired step pattern.

Abstract: A system may include an optical element including a surface defining a recess, conductive material disposed within the recess, and a solder mask disposed over a portion of the conductive material. The solder mask may define an aperture through which light from the optical element may pass. Some aspects provide creation of an optical element including a surface defining a recess, deposition of conductive material on the surface such that a portion of the deposited conductive material is disposed within the recess, and substantial planarization of the surface to expose the portion of the conductive material disposed within the recess.

Abstract: A system may include an optical element including a surface defining a recess, conductive material disposed within the recess, and a solder mask disposed over a portion of the conductive material. The solder mask may define an aperture through which light from the optical element may pass. Some aspects provide creation of an optical element including a surface defining a recess, deposition of conductive material on the surface such that a portion of the deposited conductive material is disposed within the recess, and substantial planarization of the surface to expose the portion of the conductive material disposed within the recess.

Abstract: An extrusion device has a stack of at least two layers, the stack including an outlet, an inlet for a first material, and a feed channel for the first material arranged to fluidically connect to the inlet for the first material, the feed channel having a sloped end. A method of manufacturing an extrusion device includes forming an outlet, an inlet for a first material and a feed channel for the first material having a sloped end in a stack of layers, aligning the stack of layers to fluidically connect the feed channel for the first material with the inlet for the first material and to fluidically connect the inlet for the first material with the outlet, and bonding the layers together.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a backside metallization structure on a semiconductor substrate including moving a printhead having at least one nozzle orifice relative to the semiconductor substrate, and feeding an Al passivation layer ink and an AgAl soldering pad ink through said printhead such that both said Al passivation layer ink and said AgAl soldering pad ink are simultaneously extruded from said at least one nozzle orifice and deposited onto the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A micro-extrusion printhead assembly utilized in a micro-extrusion system to form parallel extruded lines of material on a substrate includes a material feed mechanism for pushing/drawing materials out of dispensing orifices defined in the printhead assembly, a Z-axis positioning mechanism, and a base. A production method utilizes the micro-extrusion system to directly print endpoint structures at the end of each gridline, and by extruding these gridlines immediately after forming the busbars. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the micro-extrusion system is controlled to manipulate the printhead speed and/or gridline material extrusion pressure at the beginning, middle and end of each gridline printing process such that teardrop-shaped endpoint structures are formed at the ends of each gridline, whereby each endpoint structure has a substantially greater width than that of the main “central” gridline structure extending between the endpoint structures.