Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a solar cell. In one embodiment, the solar cell includes an anode; an active organic layer comprising an electron-donating organic material and an electron-accepting organic material; and an interfacial layer formed between the anode and active organic layer, where the interfacial layer comprises a hole-transporting polymer characterized with a hole-mobility higher than that of the electron-donating organic material in the active organic layer, and a small molecule that has a high hole-mobility and is capable of crosslinking on contact with air.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that converts electromagnetic radiation into electric current, of the type comprising a plurality of junctions between a first element (11; 111) of material with conduction through carriers of positive charge and a second element (12; 112) of a material with conduction through carriers of negative charge, said plurality of junctions defining a plurality of couples (10; 111, 112) comprising a hot junction (19) and a cold junction (18), said plurality of couples (10; 110) receiving a thermal flow (FT) generated by a radiation (R) incident in the direction of a region (172) including the hot junction (19), said apparatus (20; 30; 70; 170; 190) including a device (25; 75; 175) to guide said radiation (R) towards said plurality of couples (10; 111, 112).

Abstract: A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. An interrupted trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region in some locations but allows the P-type doped region and the N-type doped region to touch in other locations. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. Among other advantages, the resulting solar cell structure allows for increased efficiency while having a relatively low reverse breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A sun tracking system includes a first, and a second photo sensors, separately mounted on a solar panel on two positions apart from one another and symmetrical with respect to a center of the panel. A first sleeve surrounds the first photosensor; a second sleeve surrounds the second photosensor. Each of the sleeves has an inclined opening with reference to the surface of the panel.

Abstract: Photovoltaic fibers and methods of making photovoltaic fibers are provided. The photovoltaic fiber contains a core, bottom metal-semiconductor compounds over the core, a semiconductor layer comprising semiconductor elements and insulating materials over the bottom metal-semiconductor compounds, and upper metal-semiconductor compounds over the semiconductor layer. The photovoltaic fiber can be weavable. Fabrics including the photovoltaic fibers can be utilized in any suitable application or photovoltaic collector.

Abstract: A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. A trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. The trench structure may include a textured surface for increased solar radiation collection. Among other advantages, the resulting structure increases efficiency by providing isolation between adjacent P-type and N-type doped regions, thereby preventing recombination in a space charge region where the doped regions would have touched.

Abstract: Polymerizable diazonium salts having redox properties and absorption in the visible range, a process for preparing them and uses thereof are disclosed. The salts have the general formula: [XX+LnDdEm(N2+)p][(B?)p+x] in which: X is chosen from transition metals, preferably X is chosen from ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and iridium (Ir), x is an integer ranging from 1 to 5 inclusive, L is a ligand chosen from pyridine, bipyridine, terpyridine, phenanthroline and phenylpyridine groups, and mixtures thereof, n is an integer ranging from 1 to 5 inclusive, D is a saturated or unsaturated, C1-C5 alkyl spacer compound, d=0 or 1, E is an aromatic or polyaromatic spacer compound that can contain one or more heteroatoms, m is an integer ranging from 0 to 5 inclusive, p is an integer, and B is a counterion.

Abstract: A self-powered fan for circulating air for use in cooperation with a heat source, such as a wood stove, and having a first heat transfer member thermally and physically connected with the heat source. The fan blades operably create a first or warm air flow and a second or cooler air flow. The fan has a second heat transfer member with a thermocouple module structure located between the two heat transfer members. The first heat transfer member is of suitable material, size, mass and shape as to provide a suitable temperature gradient between the thermocouple structure and the heat source to operably allow of such sufficient heat transfer from the first heat transfer member to the thermocouple to generate sufficient power to effect rotation of the blades, but not to cause thermal damage to the thermocouple structure.

Abstract: New thermoelectric materials and devices are disclosed for application to high efficiency thermoelectric power generation. New functional materials based on oxides, rare-earth-oxides, rare-earth-nitrides, rare-earth phosphides, copper-rare-earth oxides, silicon-rare-earth-oxides, germanium-rare-earth-oxides and bismuth rare-earth-oxides are disclosed. Addition of nitrogen and phosphorus are disclosed to optimize the oxide material properties for thermoelectric conversion efficiency. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials are described. New devices based on bulk and multilayer thermoelectric materials using combinations of at least one of thermoelectric and pyroelectric and ferroelectric materials are described. Thermoelectric devices based on vertical pillar and planar architectures are disclosed. The advantage of the planar thermoelectric effect allows utility for large area applications and is scalable for large scale power generation plants.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a solar cell. In one embodiment, the solar cell includes an anode; an active organic layer comprising an electron-donating organic material and an electron-accepting organic material; a semiconducting layer formed between the anode and the active organic layer; and an electron-blocking layer (EBL) formed between the semiconducting layer and the active organic layer, where the EBL is transparent and adapted for blocking electron leakage from the active organic layer to the anode while transporting holes from the active organic layer to the anode.

Abstract: A method of making an anti-reflection coating using a sol-gel process, for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a polymeric component of silica by mixing silane(s) with one or more of a first solvent, a catalyst, and water; forming a silica sol gel by mixing the polymeric component with a colloidal silica, and optionally a second solvent; forming a metal oxide sol by mixing silane(s) with a metal oxide, a second catalyst, and a third solvent; forming a combined sol by mixing the metal oxide sol with the silica sol; casting the mixture by spin coating or the like to form a silica and metal oxide containing layer on a substrate; and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an anti-reflection coating which may be used in a photovoltaic device or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for effectively preventing the contact between the surface of a titanium oxide semiconductor electrode and an electrolyte solution, a photoelectric conversion device exhibiting high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the said photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device comprising a dye-sensitized semiconductor electrode is manufactured by letting a semiconductor adsorb a sensitizing dye, then rinsing the dye-adsorbed semiconductor, and finally letting the rinsed dye-adsorbed semiconductor adsorb a carboxylic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide. The adsorption of a dye and the rinsing are performed preferably in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence or absence of an alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A solar power generating device includes a first conductive body, a second conductive body and an insulating body sequentially disposed on the first conductive body, and a solar energy converting unit. The first conductive body has a conducting post upward projected from a hollow sleeve portion of the insulating body and a through opening of the second conductive body, so that a conducting section at a top of the conducting post is exposed at the insulating sleeve portion. The solar energy converting unit is mounted on the conducting section of the first conductive body and in electric contact with the second conductive body. With these arrangements, the solar power generating device may be mounted on a circuit board without the need of distinguishing the polarities of electrodes, and can therefore be easily mounted to and dismounted from the circuit board and be conveniently replaced when necessary.