Abstract: The present invention provides a grease composition for use in constant velocity joints, having improved wear resistance and endurance characteristics. The grease is made by incorporating in a urea grease (A) a molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate, (B) a molybdenum dithiophosphate, (C) 2-(4-morpholinyldithio)benzothiazole and (D) a calcium sulphonate. The blended amount of (A)+(B) is made not more than 10% by weight, and that of (C) and (D) not more than 3% by weight respectively. Also, a grease for use in constant velocity joints is made by further adding (E) zinc dithiophosphate to the aforementioned components (A)+(B)+(C)+(D) in a blended amount of not more than 3% by weight.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module having long-term durability is obtained at low cost. A CIS based thin-film photovoltaic module 1 is obtained by bonding a cover glass 4 comprising, e.g., a semi-tempered white flat glass, which is inexpensive and durable, to a CIS based thin-film photovoltaic circuit 2 on a glass substrate 2A with a thermally crosslinked ethylene vinyl acetate (hereinafter referred to as EVA) resin film 3 (or sheet) as an adhesive. Use of the EVA resin film 3 reduces the amount of an EVA resin to be used. In the crosslinking, a gas generating from the EVA resin film is removed by vacuum suction to prevent bubble generation or inclusion, etc. A high-capacity storage capacitor 9 is disposed on that side of the glass substrate which is opposite to the circuit side to store the electricity optically generated by the circuit.

Abstract: A design pattern or the like is displayed on a module at low cost through simple production steps without reducing the reliability and conversion efficiency of the module to thereby improve an aesthetic sense and obtain an advertising effect. A resin film F bearing a cutout display pattern, e.g., a design, is sandwiched between a CIS based thin-film solar cell submodule 2 and a crosslinked EVA resin film 3 functioning as an adhesive. Thus, the display pattern P possessed by the film F is displayed on the surface of the thin-film solar cell module 1 while maintaining the strength of bonding between the film F and each of the submodule 2 and the cover glass 4 with the EVA resin film 3. The region F1 where the film F is absent is recognized as having the intrinsic black color of the module, and the region where the film F is present is recognized as having a gray color different from the intrinsic color of the module.

Abstract: A high-resistance buffer layer and a window layer (transparent conductive film) are successively formed by the MOCVD method to obtain the same output characteristics as in conventional film deposition by the solution deposition method and to simplify a film deposition method and apparatus. Thus, the cost of raw materials and the cost of waste treatments are reduced to attain a considerable reduction in production cost. After a metallic base electrode layer 1B and a light absorption layer 1C are formed in this order on a glass substrate 1A, a high-resistance buffer layer 1D and a window layer 1E are successively formed in this order in a multi layer arrangement on the light absorption layer 1C of the resultant semifinished solar cell substrate by the MOCVD method. Consequently, a film deposition method and apparatus are simplified and the cost of raw materials and the cost of waste treatments can be reduced.

Abstract: The property of CIS based thin-film solar cell modules that the modules recover their conversion efficiency, etc. upon irradiation with a weak light is correctly evaluated. A CIS based thin-film solar cell module is subjected to a conventional damp heat test with a constant-light solar simulator (solar simulator) 1D in such a manner that the power of the light source 1E is regulated so that the solar simulator 1D emits a weak light corresponding to the amount of solar radiation in cloudy weather, i.e., resulting in an irradiance of 100-300 W/m2, and the module is continuously irradiated with the weak light throughout the test period under the same temperature, humidity, and storage period conditions as those in the conventional conditions for the test (1,000-hour storage in the dark at a temperature of 85° C. and a relative humidity of 85%).

Abstract: A method for tenaciously connecting a conductor electrode on a glass substrate to a ribbon conductor with certainty at low cost without causing damage. An indium-solder-coated copper foil ribbon conductor 1 obtained by depositing an indium solder 3 (100-90% indium and 10-0% silver) in a thickness of 100 ?m or smaller on one side of a copper foil or tin-coated copper foil 2 having a thickness of 300 ?m or smaller and optionally further depositing the solder thinly on the other surfaces of the foil is placed on an exposed part of a molybdenum-based metallic back electrode layer 4B on a glass substrate 4A. An ultrasonic soldering iron 5 is then placed against the upper side of the copper foil ribbon conductor 1 to melt the indium solder 3 and connect the copper foil ribbon conductor 1 to the electrode layer 4B.

Abstract: The tin-free air side of each of float-processed soda-lime float glass substrates is quickly and accurately distinguished, and the substrates are arranged, with the air sides facing upward. CIS based thin-film photo voltaic devices are formed on the air sides to improve conversion efficiency and yield and reduce production cost. A surface of a glass substrate is irradiated with ultra violet lights. When fluorescence occurs, this side is judged to be the tin-containing float side B (P1) and a tin containment mark is put thereon (P2). When the upper side is the air side A not bearing a tin containment mark, this substrate is subjected as it is to a cleaning/drying step and to the formation of a CIS based thin-film photo voltaic device on the air side A. When the upper side is the float side B, this substrate is turned over (P3) and then subjected to a cleaning/drying step (P4) and to the formation of a CIS based thin-film photo voltaic device on the upper side, i.e., the air side A (P5).

Abstract: This invention provides a CIS-based thin film solar battery and a process for producing the same in which the formation of an alkali barrier layer and a metal backside electrode layer is carried out at a low cost in a short time to prevent such an unfavorable phenomenon that a light absorbing layer is separated from the interface of the light absorbing layer and the metal backside electrode layer. The CIS-based thin film solar battery (1) comprises a glass substrate (2), an alkali-free layer (7) such as silica, a metal backside electrode layer (3) having a laminate structure, a p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer (4), a high-resistance buffer layer (5), and an n-type window layer (6) stacked in that order. The layer (7), either alone or together with a first layer (3a) in the layer (3), can function as an alkali barrier layer (8) that can prevent and control the thermal diffusion of an alkali component into the light absorbing layer during the formation of the layer (4) from the substrate (2).

Abstract: A simple device is used to make the temperature in an apparatus even and improve the state of being in contact with reactant gases, selenium, and sulfur. A fan 3 as a device for atmosphere homogenization is disposed in an apparatus, and the work is disposed in the manner which enables a reactant gas to circulate smoothly. Namely, flat platy works 2 are disposed apart from each other at a certain distance parallel to the direction of the major axis of the apparatus while keeping the plates vertical so that the apparatus has passages within the group of works and has gas passages over and under the works and on both sides thereof. Thus, each work is apt to come into contact with the reactant gases in the apparatus and the temperature in the apparatus is even. The state of being in contact with the reactant gases, selenium, and sulfur is improved.

Abstract: Constituent materials of a CIS type thin-film photovoltaic module are made separable and recyclable without reducing output characteristics and durability. A thin-film photovoltaic module 1 having a substrate structure comprising a CIS type thin-film solar cell device 2 and a cover glass 4 bonded to the light incidence side of the device 2 with a thermally crosslinked EVA resin or the like 3 as an adhesive is made to include a non-adhesive plastic (e.g., polyester) resin 6 sandwiched between the solar cell device 2 and the EVA resin 3. Thus, the constituent materials are separable. Through later simple separation steps, the constituent materials are separated and recovered.

Abstract: The triethylaluminum contained as an impurity in low-purity raw-material diethylzinc, which is inexpensive, is utilized as an additive to reduce the cost of film formation. Diethylzinc having a low purity (99.99-98% or 99.99-90%) is used as a raw material to produce a ZnO transparent conductive film by the MOCVD (metal-organic chemical vapor deposition) method. Water vapor (H2O) is used as an oxidizing agent and the triethylaluminum contained as an impurity in the raw material is utilized as an additive (diborane is further added as an additive) to cause the diethylzinc, the water vapor (H2O), and the triethylaluminum (and the diborane) to undergo a vapor-phase reaction to produce a ZnO transparent conductive film.

Abstract: Film formation is conducted at a low temperature to improve conversion efficiency and productivity and to enable a wider choice of substrate materials to be used. The invention relates to the light absorption layer of a CIS compound semiconductor thin-film solar cell and to a method of forming the layer. The light absorption layer comprises a compound represented by Cux(In1-yGay)(Se1-zSz)2 and having a chalcopyrite type structure, the proportions of the components satisfying 0.86?x?0.98, 0.05?y?0.25, 0?z?0.3, x=?T+?, ?=0.015y?0.00025, and ?=?7.9y+1.105, provided that T (° C.) is anneal temperature and the allowable range for x is ±0.02. The layer is formed by the selenization method at a low temperature (about 500?T?550). As the substrate is used a soda-lime glass having a low melting point.

Abstract: A precursor film having a required gallium component proportion is formed easily at low cost. A precursor film for use in forming the light absorption layer of a CIS type thin-film solar cell, etc., or a method for forming the film are provided. A Cu—Ga layer having a high gallium component proportion (Ga/(Ga+Cu)) of X % by weight Ga is formed as a first layer by sputtering using a precursor film comprising a Cu—Ga alloy layer having the gallium component proportion of X % by weight Ga as a target (deposition step A). Thereafter, a copper layer is formed as a second layer on the first layer by sputtering using a copper layer as a target (deposition step B) to thereby form a precursor film having the required gallium component proportion of Y % (X>Y) by weight Ga as the sum of the first layer and second layer. A method of film formation by simultaneous vapor deposition is also possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grease composition for a constant velocity joint, which has a low coefficient of friction to decrease the vibrations of CVJ, which comprises a base oil, a urea thickening agent, (A) a molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate, (B) at least one molybdenum di(alkyl or aryl)dithiophosphate represented by formula (I): wherein R1 represents a primary or secondary alkyl group or an aryl group, and (C) at least one sulfur-containing additive selected from the group consisting of an ashless dithiocarbamate, a polysulfide, zinc dithiocarbamate, sulfurized fat and oil, an olefin sulfide, a sulfur-phosphorus extreme pressure additive, and a thiadiazole extreme pressure additive, wherein each of the components (A), (B) and (C) is in an amount of 10% by weight or less based on the total weight of the grease composition.

Abstract: A thin-film light absorbing layer which is regulated so as to have any desired gallium concentration and which is capable of attaining a high open-circuit voltage is formed by a simple method at a temperature lower than the softening point of the soda-lime float glass. A light absorbing layer is formed by forming a back electrode on a soda-lime float glass substrate, forming on the back electrode layer a stacked precursor film including a copper-gallium alloy layer and an indium layer by sputtering, and then heating the precursor film in an atmosphere of selenium and/or sulfur.

Abstract: A thin-film light absorbing layer which is regulated so as to have any desired gallium concentration and which is capable of attaining a high open-circuit voltage is formed by a simple method at a temperature lower than the softening point of the soda-lime float glass. A light absorbing layer is formed by forming a back electrode on a soda-lime float glass substrate, forming on the back electrode layer a stacked precursor film including a copper-gallium alloy layer and an indium layer by sputtering, and then heating the precursor film in an atmosphere of selenium and/or sulfur.

Abstract: Transparent conductive ZnO films are formed at a high rate, are equal in performance to those formed by MOCVD and have a large area, while the influence of sputtering bombardment is reduced. A method for producing transparent conductive ZnO films is used to produce the window layer of a CIGS thin-film solar cell. A first conductive film functioning as an interface-protective film is formed on a high-resistance-buffer (interfacial) layer by low-output (100 W or lower) RF sputtering using a ZnO target while reducing sputtering bombardment. Second and third conductive films for the window layer are then formed by DC magnetron sputtering in steps using a ZnO--Al target in each step.

Abstract: A solar cell with a heightened open-circuit voltage and improved junction quality of the interface between an interfacial layer (or buffer layer) and a thin-film light absorbing layer is disclosed. A thin-film solar cell is fabricated on a glass substrate and includes a metallic back electrode, a light absorbing layer, an interfacial layer, a window layer, and an upper electrode. The solar cell is characterized by the light absorbing layer. The light absorbing layer is a thin film of p-type Cu(InGa)Se.sub.2 (CIGS) of the Cu-III-VI.sub.2 chalcopyrite structure and has such a gallium concentration gradient that the gallium concentration gradually (gradationally) increases from the surface thereof to the inside, thereby attaining a heightened open-circuit voltage. The light absorbing layer has on its surface an ultrathin-film surface layer of Cu(InGa)(SeS).sub.2 (CIGSS), which has such a sulfur concentration gradient that the sulfur concentration abruptly decreases from the surface thereof (i.e.

Abstract: A lubricant additive including a borate dispersion, wherein the lubricant additive is a dispersion of an alkali metal salt of boric acid in a mixture of an alkaline earth metal salt of a salicylic acid and an alkenylsuccinimide. The lubricant additive provides a high dropping point for grease used under a high temperature condition of 130.degree. C. or higher and per se exhibits anti-oxidant performance. A lubricant grease composition containing the lubricating additive is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms; X represents ##STR2## Y represents ##STR3## (A) and (B) each represents a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR4## and ##STR5## and * indicates an optically active center.