Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of a thermoelectric conversion element, including: a holding step of holding thermoelectric conversion members (2, 3) while exposing at least one side end portions of at least one of the thermoelectric conversion members; a coating step of coating the exposed end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member with metal powder (13); and an electrode forming step of forming an electrode (4a) at the end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member by sintering the metal powder.

Abstract: In embodiments, the inefficiencies present in conventional technologies that separately utilize photovoltaic or solar thermal technologies are obviated. Embodiments relate generally to a solar energy collection device having a focusing element with a shape configured to direct collimated incident light to a common focal region. A focus tube is then arranged at the focal region. The focus tube has an internal bore containing a working fluid and also configured to absorb incident and focused light that is and transferred to the working fluid. The focus tube is mechanically coupled to the focusing element with a mounting structure serving to maintain focus tube's position at the focal region. A photovoltaic cell array is then arranged on the focusing element. The photovoltaic cell array comprises a plurality of individual photovoltaic cells, each having a bandgap potential.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a solar cell array for deployment and use in a space environment, and methods of making same. The array includes a plurality of solar cells having an emissivity coating on the baskside of each, with each coated solar cell being attached to a supporting member.

Abstract: A multi-scissor jack-operated single-shaft solar tracking apparatus. A scissor jack is provided at regular intervals on a rotation beam of the single-shaft tracking solar support, thereby forming a multi-drive rotation. Lifting screw of each scissor jack is connected by a drive shaft so as to be lifted in synchronization. One of the scissor jacks can be driven by a motor, and the lifting screws of the other scissor jacks are driven by the transmission shaft, thereby synchronously driving the rotation beam of the single-shaft tracking solar support to rotate. The scissor jacks can be driven by manpower, in order that the angle of the tracking solar support can be adjusted by hand.

Abstract: A floating solar system having a peripheral buoyant pontoon within which is suspended an array of individual photovoltaic panels each equipped with a float. A stabilizing skirt drops down into the water underneath the pontoon and creates a more placid “moon pool” within the pontoon to reduce turbulence from wave action and therefore enhance the efficiency of the array of photovoltaic panels. A plurality of the floating solar systems may be aggregated to form an island of units. The individual panels or rows or columns thereof may be flat (horizontal) or tilted so that they can be oriented more normally with regard to the sun's rays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices comprising at least one hybrid planar-graded heterojunction. In particular, organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices are disclosed having two electrodes (110), (150) in superposed relation, a graded heterojunction layer (130) located between the two electrodes, and at least one photoactive layer (120), (140) adjacent to and interfacing with the graded heterojunction layer.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes a substrate; an absorber layer formed over the substrate; a porous alumina passivation layer formed on an upper surface of the absorber layer; a buffer layer conformably formed over the passivation layer; and a transparent conducting oxide layer conformably formed over the buffer layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a layer system (1) for thin-film solar cells (100) and solar modules, comprising an absorber layer (4), which includes a chalcogenide compound semiconductor, and a buffer layer (5), which is arranged on the absorber layer (4) and includes halogen-enriched ZnxIn1-xSy with 0.01?x?0.9 and 1?y?2, wherein the buffer layer (5) consists of a first layer region (5.1) adjoining the absorber layer (4) with a halogen mole fraction A1 and a second layer region (5.2) adjoining the first layer region (5.1) with a halogen mole fraction A2 and the ratio A1/A2 is ?2 and the layer thickness (d1) of the first layer region (5.1) is ?50% of the layer thickness (d) of the buffer layer (5).

Abstract: A solar cell includes: a base substrate that has a principle surface; a first semiconductor layer provided in a first region on the principle surface; a second semiconductor layer provided in a second region on the principle surface; an n-side electrode provided on the first semiconductor layer; a p-side electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer; and grooves that separate the n-side electrode and the p-side electrode from each other. The respective widths of the grooves in a direction in which the n-side electrode and the p-side electrode are spaced apart are set to be wider in the outer peripheral region than in the inner region.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device has a foam substrate, thermoelectric elements and metallic foil strip assemblies. The foam substrate has apertures therein. The thermoelectric elements are inserted into the apertures. The metallic foil strip assemblies include upper and lower foil strips. A first end of a first upper foil strip is inserted into a first aperture contacting an upper heat transferring surface of the first thermoelectric element. A second end is inserted into a second aperture contacting an upper heat transferring surface of a second thermoelectric element with an elongated portion of the metallic foil strip assembly extending between the first aperture and the second aperture along the upper surface. A first end of a second upper foil strip is inserted into the second aperture contacting the upper heat transferring surface of the second thermoelectric element and a second end is similarly inserted into a third aperture.

Abstract: A solar cell module according to an embodiment includes a solar cell panel including at least one solar cell; and a frame positioned at a periphery of the solar cell panel. The frame includes at least one fixing hole to receive an output cable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying flexible solar panels to flexible underlying membranes are disclosed. The embodiments disclosed herein involve systems and methods for applying flexible photovoltaic modules to flexible underlying membranes, including large and small span and permanent membrane structures.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photoelectric conversion element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a first layer. The photoelectric conversion layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first layer is provided between the first electrode and the photoelectric conversion layer. The first layer includes at least a first metal oxide. The first layer has a plurality of orientation planes. At least one of the orientation planes satisfies the relationship L1>L2, where L1 is a length of the one of the plurality of orientation planes, and L2 is a thickness of the first layer along a first direction. The first direction is from the first electrode toward the second electrode.

Abstract: A thin film and a method of making a thin film. The thin film comprises a patterned substrate, a smooth film of electric field tuned quantum dots solution positioned on the patterned substrate, and a thin layer of metal positioned on the thin film. The method begins by drop-casting a quantum dots solution onto a patterned substrate to create a thin film. While the quantum dots solution is drying, a linearly increasing electric filed is applied. The thin film is then placed in a deposition chamber and a thin layer of metal is deposited onto the thin film. Also included are a method of measuring the photoinduced charge transfer (PCT) rate in a quantum dot nanocomposite film and methods of forming a Shottky barrier on a transparent ITO electrode of a quantum dot film.

Abstract: This solar cell module is provided with: a plurality of solar cells; and a tab, which electrically connects the solar cells, and which has recesses and projections on the surface thereof. The tab has height of the recesses and the projections smaller in the peripheral region of each of the solar cells, compared with that in other regions of each of the solar cells.

Abstract: A solar cell element containing: a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film disposed in a first region on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a front surface electrode disposed in a second region on the one main surface of the semiconductor substrate and containing silver as a main component and a tellurium-based glass containing tellurium, tungsten, and bismuth. The solar cell element is manufactured by forming the antireflection film on the one main substrate surface; printing on the antireflection film a conductive paste containing a conductive powder mainly containing silver, a tellurium-based glass frit containing tellurium, tungsten, and bismuth, and an organic vehicle; and disposing the antireflection film in the first region and forming the front surface electrode in the second region, by firing the paste and eliminating the antireflection film positioned under the paste.

Abstract: The present technology is directed generally to phase change materials for cooling enclosed electronic components, including for solar energy collection, and associated systems and methods. In particular embodiments, a system directs warm air through an airflow path in thermal communication with a phase change material to liquefy the phase change material and cool the air. The system also directs the cool air into thermal communication with electronic components to cool the electronic components via conduction and/or convection.

Abstract: Photon absorption, and thus current generation, is hindered in conventional thin-film solar cell designs, including quantum well structures, by the limited path length of incident light passing vertically through the device. Optical scattering into lateral waveguide structures provides a physical mechanism to increase photocurrent generation through in-plane light trapping. However, the insertion of wells of high refractive index material with lower energy gap into the device structure often results in lower voltage operation, and hence lower photovoltaic power conversion efficiency. The voltage output of an InGaAs quantum well waveguide photovoltaic device can be increased by employing a III-V material structure with an extended wide band gap emitter heterojunction.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoelectric conversion material including a plurality of kinds of phases including a first phase and a second phase which have elemental compositions different from each other. The first phase and the second phase have a skutterudite structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for generating power by amplifying sunlight, including a sunlight amplifying means; and an energy storing means configured to support the sunlight amplifying means and to store an electric energy and a thermal energy generated from the sunlight amplifying means, wherein the sunlight amplifying means includes a first pipe formed of metallic material; a second pipe configured to enclose the first pipe; a solar photovoltaic module installed between the first pipe and the second pipe; and a sunlight amplifying sheet configured with concave mirrors or convex lenses having predetermined shapes and attached to the outer circumference of the second pipe so as to amplify sunlight.