Abstract: Disclosed are a tyrosinase enzyme electrode containing metal nanoparticles and its producing method. Metal nanoparticles are applied to a surface of a support with high chemical stability. Also, a buffer layer consisting of a self-assembled monolayer is formed on the metal nanoparticles. Such self-assembled monolayer is used to immobilize tyrosinase enzyme which was subsequently prepared. In other words, the self-assembled monolayer is arranged between the metal nanoparticles and the tyrosinase enzyme so as to immobilize the tyrosinase enzyme on the support. Introduction of the metal nanoparticles into the electrode contributes to improvement in detection limits of the tyrosinase enzyme electrode. In addition, the introduction of substrate induces the activation of enzyme.

Abstract: A processor for making porous silicon or processing other substrates has first and second chamber assemblies. The first and second chamber assemblies include first and second seals for sealing against a wafer, and first and second electrodes, respectively. The first and/or second seal is moveable towards and away from a wafer in the processor, to move between a wafer load/unload position, and a wafer process position. The first electrode may move along with the first seal, and the second electrode may move along with the second seal. A light source shines light onto the first side of the wafer. The processor may be pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation, for loading and unloading a wafer, to a substantially vertical orientation, for processing a wafer.

Abstract: An encapsulant layer for a photovoltaic module enabling recovering and recycling or reusing of reutilizeable resources such as a transparent front face substrate and photovoltaic cell and the like among constituents of a photovoltaic module, and a method for manufacturing a regenerated photovoltaic cell and a regenerated transparent front face substrate. The photovoltaic module is formed by laminating: a transparent front face substrate; a photovoltaic cell carrying a wiring electrode and a takeoff electrode, and an encapsulant layer is placed on at least one surface; and a rear face protecting sheet. The encapsulant layer is a separable layer formed mainly of a thermoplastic resin, and an output maintenance factor of photoelectronic power of the photovoltaic module using the encapsulant layer is in a range of 80% to 100%.

Abstract: A controller for a reformer that: changes the supply quantity of at least either one of combustible gas and combustion oxidizing gas supplied to a combustion section; detects a change which is caused in the combustion state of the combustion section as a result of a change of the supply quantity; and checks the combustion state which arose at the combustion section before the change based on the previously detected detection result. Thus, a gone-out state of the combustion section can be reliably judged with a low cost device, and the combustion state of the combustion section in the reformer of a fuel cell system can be adjusted to an optimum combustion state.

Abstract: Methods for using supercritical water to convert hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, or gasoline, into carbonaceous gases and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream generated by the fuel reforming reaction can then be further refined to increase hydrogen content, and the resultant hydrogen can be utilized to power fuel cells.

Abstract: A first conductive member and a second conductive member having different Seebeck coefficients are joined together by a joining member to form a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, and these thermoelectric conversion elements are disposed in at least two different temperature environments. The first conductive members of respective thermoelectric conversion elements or the second conductive members thereof are connected to each other by an electric wiring to form a direct energy conversion electric circuit system, and electric potential energy is picked up from an arbitrary portion on this electric wiring. Accordingly, the direct energy conversion electric circuit system from thermal energy to electric energy is formed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for detecting an interaction between an analyte and a biomolecule. The method comprises separating at least one biomolecule according to its isoelectric point in the presence of a given analyte and detecting an interaction between the analyte and a biomolecule using fluorescence anisotropy. The method may further comprise collecting the analyte-biomolecule complex and analyzing the biomolecule.

Abstract: A reformer burner that includes a fuel supply tube through which a fuel is supplied and a fuel supply chamber that surrounds the fuel supply tube and has a plurality of atomizing holes to atomize a fuel into a combustion chamber of a reformer.

Abstract: A steam generator used to contain and cool the synthesis gas produced by coal gasification processes employs radiant and convection surfaces, and an integral gasifier, in a specific arrangement to achieve a cost-effective, compact design.

Abstract: A magnetic mirror plasma source includes a gap separating a substrate from a cathode. A mirror magnetic field extends between the substrate and the cathode through the gap. The magnetic field lines at a proximal surface of the substrate are at least two times as strong as those field lines entering the cathode. An anode is disposed such that a closed loop electron Hall current containment region is formed within the magnetic field.

Abstract: A process is described for generating hydrogen through the oxidation of fuels that contain chemically bound hydrogen, in particular hydrocarbons, having the following process steps: a) introducing the fuel (1) as well as the oxidation agent (2) into a reactor (3) having a porous material (4?) that is embodied in such a way that flame propagation in a direction opposite the direction of flow is prevented, and b) reacting the fuel with the oxidation agent in partial oxidation so that hydrogen is obtained in gaseous form. In addition, an apparatus for generating hydrogen that has a reactor that contains a porous material (4, 4?), and the reactor (3) is embodied as a tubular reactor that has a central chamber (5) to introduce the fuel and the oxidation agent that extends in the axial direction and is delimited radially toward the outside by a first wall that has porous material (4), and the first wall is delimited radially toward the outside by a second wall that contains the porous material (4?).

Abstract: A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis may have a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a pair of adjacent reflector troughs, each trough having a base, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the solar energy collection system, a frame that is coupled to the support structure near the bases of the troughs to define a closed reflector support truss framework in cooperation with the support structure, wherein the reflector support truss framework is positioned behind the reflector troughs such that the reflector support truss framework does not shadow the reflector panels during normal operation of the solar energy collector, and a plurality of solar receivers.

Abstract: The present invention is a natural gas steam reforming method for generating an output gas mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, including the following steps. (1) Combusting a portion of the natural gas with an oxidizing agent to generate heat, superheated steam, and a gas mixture of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. (2) Steam reforming the gas mixture with additional superheated steam under steam-rich conditions to transform a remaining portion of the natural gas into carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. (3) Water-gas-shifting any residual carbon monoxide into additional carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen by utilizing a water-gas-shift catalyst downstream of the steam reforming step, thereby producing an effluent gas mixture that is predominantly carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a continuous reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack. First and second sulfur traps are disposed in parallel between a hydrocarbon reformer and the fuel cell stack. The ends of the sulfur traps are connected to conventional four-way valves such that either trap may be selected for trapping sulfur from the reformate stream, while the other trap is undergoing regeneration by backflushing the accumulated adsorbed sulfur deposits. Thus, the sulfur traps may be used and stripped alternately, permitting continuous supply of desulfurized reformate to the fuel cell assembly. In a currently preferred embodiment, the hot cathode air exhaust is used to assist in stripping the out-of-service trap. In an alternative embodiment, two reformers are provided and the reformers are alternately regenerated along with their respective traps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement having at least one solar cell, which is formed by a first sequence of differently doped layers (1, 2, 11, 12) on a substrate (6, 16), and at least one bypass diode, which is connected to the solar cell, particularly in a monolithic, series-connected solar module. The arrangement is characterized in that the bypass diode is formed by a second sequence of layers (4, 5, 13, 14), which is arranged between the substrate (6, 16) and the first layer sequence (1, 2, 11, 12). With the proposed arrangement monolithic, series-connected solar modules can be formed at a very low loss of active receiving surface, the solar cells of which are protected by bypass diodes.

Abstract: A processor for making porous silicon or processing other substrates has first and second chamber assemblies. The first and second chamber assemblies include first and second seals for sealing against a wafer, and first and second electrodes, respectively. The second seal is moveable towards and away from a wafer in the processor, to move between a wafer load/unload position, and a wafer process position. The second electrode may move with the second seal. A light source shines light onto the first side of the wafer. The processor may be pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation, for loading and unloading a wafer, to a substantially vertical orientation, for processing a wafer.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a p-type semiconductor substance, and an n-type semiconductor substance. The p-type semiconductor substance and the n-type semiconductor substance form a pn junction or a pin junction, and the p-type semiconductor substance or the n-type semiconductor substance includes a structure film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the deposition in a magnetron reactor (1) equipped with a magnetron cathode (MC) of at least one material on a substrate (11a), according to which process said material is vaporized by magnetron sputtering, using a gas that is ionized in pulsed mode. To this effect and in order to favour the formation of high current pulses of short duration while avoiding the formation of electric arcs and while enabling an effective ionisation of the sputtered vapour, a preionization of the said gas prior to the application of the main voltage pulse on the magnetron cathode (MC) is carried out in order to generate current pulses (CP) whose decay time (Td), after cut-off of the main voltage pulse (VP) is shorter than 5 ?s.

Abstract: In a device for transporting liquid, liquid to be transported is enclosed by an oil droplet, which is fractionated with air, for manipulation. Moreover, as a method for supplying liquids wherein a plurality of liquids are enclosed by an oil droplet sequentially and treated, liquid enclosed by an oil droplet is formed by associating one oil with one liquid in a liquid introducing section. According to the present invention, even in the case where a plurality of liquids are manipulated, it is possible to manipulate stably without affecting other liquids. Moreover, it is possible to treat as a liquid enclosed by an oil droplet successively in the device for transporting liquid, thereby allowing the invention to be applied to a system for analyzing easily.

Abstract: A sputtering plasma reactors for plasma vapor deposition (PVD) having an improved interface between a PVD target, a ceramic ring and a PVD chamber wall. The reactor includes a PVD chamber wall and a PVD target, wherein the target in conjunction with the PVD chamber wall form a vacuum chamber and wherein at least the portion of the target facing the vacuum chamber is composed of material to be sputtered. The reactor also includes an insulating ceramic ring positioned between the target and the PVD chamber wall. A first O-ring is provided to establish a vacuum seal between the target and the insulating ring and a second O-ring is provided to establish a vacuum seal between the insulating ring and the PVD chamber wall. At least one spacer is positioned between the target and insulating ring to maintain a gap G between the insulating ring and the target.