Abstract: An electrolyzer device comprises a container configured to receive liquid to be electrolyzed; a separator arranged in the container so as to define a first chamber and a second chamber positioned lower in a vertical direction than the first chamber; a cathode arranged in the first chamber and operatively connected to a power supply; and an anode arranged in the second chamber and operatively connected to the power supply.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to photovoltaic and photoelectrosynthetic cells, devices, methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical analyte sensors having elements designed to modulate their electrochemical reactions as well as methods for making and using such sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus has a tank with an interior for containing water, a nozzle for directing ozonated water out of the spray apparatus, and an electrolytic cell located between the nozzle and the tank. The electrolytic cell is configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle. The apparatus also includes a power source for providing electric potential to the electrolytic cell. The tank, nozzle, and electrolytic cell all are part of a single spray bottle or dispenser (e.g., like a soap dispenser).

Abstract: A biosensor strip having a low profile for reducing the volume of liquid sample needed to perform an assay. In one embodiment, the biosensor strip includes an electrode support; an electrode arrangement on the electrode support; a cover; a sample chamber; and an incompressible element placed between the cover and the electrode support, the incompressible element providing an opening in at least one side or in the distal end of the sample chamber to provide at least one vent in the sample chamber. In another embodiment, the biosensor strip has an electrode support; an electrode arrangement on the electrode support; a cover; and a sample chamber, the cover having a plurality of openings formed therein, at least one of the openings in register with the sample chamber. The invention further includes methods for preparing such a biosensor strips in a continuous manner.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device and method based on creating a structure of nanoclusters in a composite metal and insulator material by co-depositing the metal and insulator material and irradiating the composite material to create nanoclusters of metal within the composite material. In one variation, the composite material may be continuously deposited and concurrently irradiated. A further variation based on a multilayer structure having alternate layers of metal/material mixture. The alternate layers have differing metal content. The layer structure is irradiated with ionizing radiation to produce nanoclusters in the layers. The differing metal content serves to quench the nanoclusters to isolate nanoclusters along the radiation track. The result is a thermoelectric device with a high figure of merit. In one embodiment, the multilayer structure is fabricated and then irradiated with high energy radiation penetrating the entire layer structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering that is disposed between a substrate and a sputtering target. The method for recycling a tantalum coil for sputtering is characterized in that the whole or partial surface of a spent tantalum coil is subject to cutting (cutting is performed until a re-deposited film and knurling traces are eliminated) so as to eliminate the re-deposited film that was formed during sputtering, and knurling is newly performed to the cut portion. While sputtered grains are accumulated (re-deposited) on the surface of the tantalum coil disposed between the substrate and the sputtering target during sputtering, by eliminating the sputtered grains accumulated on the spent coil by way of cutting after the sputtering is complete, the tantalum coil can be efficiently recycled. Thus, provided is technology capable of lean manufacturing of new coils, improving productivity, and stably providing such coils.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing CO2 to produce hydrocarbons are disclosed. A device comprises a photoanode capable of splitting H2O into electrons, protons, and oxygen; an electrochemical cell cathode comprising an electro-catalyst capable of reducing CO2; H2O in contact with the surface of the photoanode; CO2 in contact with the surface of the cathode; and a proton-conducting medium positioned between the photoanode and the cathode. Electrical charges associated with the protons and the electrons move from the photoanode to the cathode, driven in part by a chemical potential difference sufficient to drive the electrochemical reduction of CO2 at the cathode. A light beam is the sole source of energy used to drive chemical reactions. The photoanode can comprise TiO2 nanowires or nanotubes, and can also include WO3 nanowires or nanotubes, quantum dots of CdS or PbS, and Ag or Au nanostructures.

Abstract: Diffusion regions of a solar cell are formed using a blanket layer of film that is doped with dopants of a first conductivity type. Dopants of a second conductivity type are implanted in select regions of the blanket layer of film to form dopant source regions of the second conductivity type. Diffusion regions of the solar cell are formed by diffusing dopants of the first conductivity type and dopants of the second conductivity type from the blanket layer of film into an underlying silicon material. The blanket layer of film may be a P-type dopant source layer doped with boron, with phosphorus being implanted in select regions of the P-type dopant source layer to form N-type dopant source regions in the P-type dopant source layer.

Abstract: A gas generating device for generating an oxygen gas and/or a hydrogen gas from an electrolytic solution containing water, including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a plurality of through holes and a gas containing unit. The anode electrode (photocatalyst supporting electrode) has a photocatalyst-containing layer containing a photocatalyst producing an oxygen gas from the electrolytic solution by a photocatalytic reaction. The cathode electrode produces a hydrogen gas from electrons and hydrogen ions that are generated in the electrolytic solution by the photocatalytic reaction at the photocatalyst-containing layer. The through holes are formed on at least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and the through holes allow the produced oxygen gas or hydrogen gas to pass therethrough, but do not allow the electrolytic solution to pass therethrough. The gas containing unit holds the oxygen gas or hydrogen gas that has passed through the through holes.

Abstract: A supercapacitor desalination cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a spacer disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a monovalent ion selective layer disposed on at least one of the first and second electrodes. A supercapacitor desalination device and a method for desalination of a liquid are further presented.

Abstract: A magnetron plasma apparatus boosted by hollow cathode plasma includes at least one electrically connected pair of a first hollow cathode plate and a second hollow cathode plate placed opposite to each other at a separation distance of at least 0.1 mm and having an opening following an outer edge of a sputter erosion zone on a magnetron target so that a magnetron magnetic field forms a perpendicular magnetic component inside a hollow cathode slit between plates and, wherein the plates and are connected to a first electric power generator together with the magnetron target to generate a magnetically enhanced hollow cathode plasma in at least one of a first working gas distributed in the hollow cathode slit and a second working gas admitted outside the slit in contact with a magnetron plasma generated in at least one of the first working gas and the second working gas.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus includes a backing plate, a fixing portion, and a shield surrounding the periphery of a target and having an opening. The fixing portion fixes the target to the backing plate by pressing the peripheral portion of the target against the backing plate. The shield includes a facing portion facing the backing plate without the fixing portion intervening between them, and an outer portion formed outside the facing portion. The gap between the facing portion and the backing plate is smaller than the gap between the outer portion and the backing plate. The inner surface of the shield, which faces a processing space, includes a portion which inclines such that the distance between the inner surface and the backing plate decreases from the outer portion to the facing portion.

Abstract: A plastic substrate has a porous layer on a surface. The porous layer is formed at least partially from a material of the plastic substrate and has pores. The proportion by volume of pores is greater in a first region of the porous layer than in a second region of the porous layer. The second region follows the first region, as seen proceeding from the plastic substrate. The porous layer can be produced by a plasma process that simultaneously effects structuring of the plastic substrate by ion bombardment and coating of the plastic substrate.

Abstract: Methods of patterning conductive layer with a mask are described. The methods include low-ion-mass sputtering of the conductive layer by accelerating (e.g. helium or hydrogen containing ions) toward a substrate which includes the patterned mask and the underlying conductive layer. The sputtering processes described herein selectively remove conductive layers while retaining mask material.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell comprises a substrate, an inorganic layer disposed on the substrate and having a plurality of unevenness, a first electrode disposed on the inorganic layer and having a plurality of second unevenness, an absorbing layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the absorbing layer.

Abstract: Operating method of an apparatus for purifying a fluid by means of an apparatus provided with an even number of cells, each of which comprises at least one lead through condenser and is electrically connected to a direct current power supply. The method foresees cyclically repeating, for each cell, a charging step, in which the power supply charges the electrodes of the cell at different polarity; a service step, in which a flow of fluid to be treated is forced to pass through the electrodes of the lead through condenser of the cell with progressive build-up of the ionized particles of the fluid on the electrodes; and a regeneration step, in which the electrodes are discharged and a flow of washing fluid is forced to pass in the condenser of the cell with consequent removal of the ionized particles built up on the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hierarchical structure of graphene-carbon nanotubes and a method for preparing the same, and, more specifically, to a method for growing graphene into carbon nanotubes having a hierarchical structure by adding metal nanoparticles on the graphene. According to the present invention, carbon nanotubes having a hierarchical structure, which have an increased specific surface area compared to existing carbon nanotubes, can be obtained, and a carbon nanotube structure which is metal-functionalized by a metal precursor can be obtained. In addition, carbon nanotubes can be prepared in an environmentally-friendly manner by the use of microwaves.

Abstract: A method of photooxidizing carbon nanotubes, such as single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes are purified and dispersed in a solvent, such as n-methyl pyrrolidinone or dimethylformamide. A singlet oxygen sensitizer like Rose Bengal is added to the solution. Oxygen gas is continuously supplied while irradiating the solution while irradiating the solution with ultraviolet light to produce singlet oxygen to oxidize the single-walled carbon nanotubes. Advantageously, the method significantly increases the level of oxidation compared with prior art methods.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency in a photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device according to the present invention uses a polycrystalline semiconductor layer including a plurality of semiconductor particles coupled together as a light-absorbing layer, each of the semiconductor particles including a group I-III-VI compound, each of the semiconductor particles having a higher composition ratio PI of a group I-B element to a group III-B element in a surface portion thereof than that in a central portion thereof.