Abstract: A plurality of solar cells and a synthetic resin sheet (PET) with good insulating properties are sealed between a glass plate and a protective film (PVF/Al/PVF) by a sealing resin (EVA). The area of an Al foil of the protective film is larger than the area where the solar cells are present and smaller than the aperture area of an aluminum frame body. The solar cells or their wiring tab protrusions do not come into contact with the Al foil of the protective film. Moreover, the Al foil does not come into contact with the frame body at the edge.

Abstract: A paste composition for forming an electrically conductive layer on a p-type silicon semiconductor substrate comprises aluminum powder, an organic vehicle and powder of at least one inorganic compound selected from a group consisting of an oxide-based inorganic compound and a non-oxide-based inorganic compound. The oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and a melting temperature, a softening temperature and a decomposition temperature each higher than the melting point of aluminum. The non-oxide-based inorganic compound has a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum and at least one of a melting temperature, a softening temperature or a decomposition temperature higher than the melting point of aluminum.

Abstract: A super-lattice thermoelectric device. The device is comprised of p-legs and n-legs, each leg being comprised of a large number of very thin alternating layers of two materials with differing electron band gaps. The n-legs in the device are comprised of alternating layers of Si and SiC. The p-legs are comprised of alternating layers of B4C and B9C. In preferred embodiments the layers are about 100 angstroms thick. Thermoelectric modules made according to the present invention are useful for both cooling applications as well as electric power generation. This preferred embodiment is a thermoelectric 10×10 egg crate type module about 6 cm×6 cm×0.76 cm designed to produce 70 Watts with a temperature difference of 300 degrees C. with a module efficiency of about 30 percent. The module has 98 active thermoelectric legs, with each leg having more than 3 million super-lattice layers.

Abstract: A combination roofing panel and solar module includes a flexible membrane sheet, such as a single-ply membrane sheet, and a plurality of elongated solar or photovoltaic modules arranged side-by-side, end-to-end, or adjacent each other. The modules are adhered to the flexible membrane, and the edges of the modules having electrical connectors or electrodes are arranged to face each other or be aligned with each other. The electrical connectors are connected by a solder connection to module electrodes through apertures in a bottom surface of the flexible membrane and are connected in series. The series electrical connectors are connected directly to direct current (DC) electric devices, to a combiner box, to another panel or to an inverter which coverts direct current (DC) to alternating current electricity for use in residential, commercial or industrial building structures. The ends and elongated edges of a roofing component or panel having the flexible membrane and modules can be sealed for protection.

Abstract: A thermoelectric structure and device including at least first and second material systems having different lattice constants and interposed in contact with each other, and a physical interface at which the at least first and second material systems are joined with a lattice mismatch and at which structural integrity of the first and second material systems is substantially maintained. The at least first and second material systems have a charge carrier transport direction normal to the physical interface and preferably periodically arranged in a superlattice structure.

Abstract: A method of making a photovoltaic cell includes contacting a cross-linking agent with semiconductor particles, and incorporating the semiconductor particles into the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A space solar concentrator based on deployable reflectors attached to a panel base is described. Each of the reflectors includes sides coated with reflective coating on surfaces facing away from the base. In one embodiment, the sides of the reflector have thicker portion to provide stiffness for deployment absent compressive force, and thinner portion to reduce weight and storage energy. In another embodiment, both reflective sides are unfolded when the reflectors are in stowed position. During deployment, a stop side will limit the deployment of both reflective sides and ensure the proper reflecting position. In addition, these embodiments reduce the storage energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion element that has high efficiency even at reduced thickness. In this thermoelectric conversion element, striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts are arranged on one surface of an insulating layer, and striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts are arranged on the other surface. The two sets of stripes form overlapped portions. At one or more of the overlapped portions, a first p-type thermoelectric conversion part and a first n-type thermoelectric conversion part are electrically connected via a first conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer, a second p-type thermoelectric conversion part and a second n-type thermoelectric conversion part are electrically connected via a second conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer, and the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion are electrically isolated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion device having high thermoelectric conversion performance. In this device, electrodes are arranged so that electric current flows in an interlayer direction of a layered substance, unlike the arrangements derived from common knowledge in the art. In the thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention, a thermoelectric-conversion film is obtained through epitaxial growth and formed by arranging an electrically conducting layer and an electrically insulating layer alternately; the electrically conducting layer has an octahedral crystal structure in which a transition metal atom M is positioned at its center and oxygen atoms are positioned at its vertexes; and the electrically insulating layer includes a metal element or a crystalline metal oxide.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material comprises two or more components, at least one of which is a thermoelectric material. The first component is nanostructured, for example as an electrically conducting nanostructured network, and can include nanowires, nanoparticles, or other nanostructures of the first component. The second component may comprise an electrical insulator, such as an inorganic oxide, other electrical insulator, other low thermal conductivity material, voids, air-filled gaps, and the like. Additional components may be included, for example to improve mechanical properties. Quantum size effects within the nanostructured first component can advantageously modify the thermoelectric properties of the first component. In other examples, the second component may be a thermoelectric material, and additional components may be included.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device having an anode, a cathode, and at least one photoactive layer between the anode and the cathode, wherein the at least one photoactive layer includes a composition containing a polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 125° C.; and a photoactive material, wherein: (a) the photoactive material is a hole transporting organic material, an electron transporting organic material, and/or a light harvesting organic material, (b) the polymer and the photoactive material are in a single phase (c) the photoactive material constitutes at least 20% by weight of the composition, and (d) the at least one photoactive layer is in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode, the anode and the cathode are configured to conduct an electric charge from the at least one photoactive layer produced by the at least one photoactive layer absorbing light.

Abstract: A bio-separation system using an efficient, compact, portable, interchangeable, reusable, recyclable, multi-channel cartridge, has integrated pre-aligned optics and an integrated reagent reservoir. The cartridge supports, for example, multiple capillaries for CE separation. An integrated reservoir containing a separation support medium (e.g., a gel buffer) is common to all capillaries. The chemistry of the medium and the characteristics of the capillaries (e.g., capillary size, coating and length) are defined for each cartridge. Different cartridges can be easily interchanged in the bio-separation system to suit the particular sample based separation. The reservoir is coupled to an air pressure pump that pressurizes the gel reservoir to purge and fill the capillaries with buffer as the separation support medium.

Abstract: A layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising a non-photoactive element exclusive of unsubstituted poly(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene)s, the element containing at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarboxy-polymers, optionally quaternized polyamine-polymers and poly(vinylphosphonic acid), the surface of one side of the element being contiguous with a positive electrode and the surface on the opposite side of the element being contiguous with a material capable of transporting holes.

Abstract: In a solar cell, at least one of reinforcing material and buffering material is provided at least partially on at least one of a back surface, a front surface and a side surface of the solar cell. With these reinforcing material and/or buffering material, occurrence of cell fracture due to load imposed by external force can be decreased.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a photovoltaic frame assembly comprises a photovoltaic module and a frame having a plurality of air vents. The air vents allow air to flow into the frame and thereby cool the photovoltaic module. The frame may be installed in-line with another such frame to allow air flow between frames. The air vents may be located within a perimeter of the frame to allow for structural integrity while remaining aesthetically pleasing. The frame may include an inner lip, an outer lip, or both to provide different mounting options to accommodate different sites. The frame may comprise a plurality of frame members, such as extrusions including the air vents.

Abstract: A reflector array comprises a plurality of partial parabolic reflectors arranged in rows and columns with each reflector directing radiation to a receiver or from a transmitter located at the focus of the reflector. In a compact photovoltaic cell arrangement, each cell is shielded from direct radiation by the adjacent reflector. The reflectors can be formed as one unit with reflective material or with the reflecting surfaces coated with aluminum, silver, or other suitable reflecting material. A secondary reflector can be positioned at the focus of a reflector for directing radiation to a receiver or from a transmitter located at a more accessible location in the array.

Abstract: Microtechnologically prepared component as a flow cytometer. The component contains a preparation area to specifically influence and separate the particles, preferably by dielectrophoresis, a measuring channel area for characterizing the particles, and a sorting area for sorting the particles identified in the measuring channel area by dielectrophoresis. The sorting includes switching elements which permit active guidance of the particles into two or more subchannels corresponding to the criteria which have been registered in the measuring channel area. With a component configured in this way for the use of a flow cytometer, quick and precise sorting of particles, in particular biological cells in a suspension, can be implemented.

Abstract: A solar cell 1 has a number of grooves 2 formed in parallel with each other on a first main surface 24a of a silicon single crystal substrate. An electrode 6 is formed on the inner side face of each groove 2 on one side. Each groove 2 is formed in the direction in disagreement with the <110> direction on the first main surface 24a. This raises mechanical strength of the solar cell 1. The direction of formation of the grooves 2 preferably crosses the <110> direction nearest to the direction of formation at an angle of 4°˜45° on the acute angle side.

Abstract: Charge-splitting networks, optoelectronic devices, methods for making optoelectronic devices, power generation systems utilizing such devices and method for making charge-splitting networks are disclosed. An optoelectronic device may include a porous nano-architected (e.g., surfactant-templated) film having interconnected pores that are accessible from both the underlying and overlying layers. A pore-filling material substantially fills the pores. The interconnected pores have diameters of about 1-100 nm and are distributed in a substantially uniform fashion with neighboring pores separated by a distance of about 1-100 nm. The nano-architected porous film and the pore-filling, material have complementary charge-transfer properties with respect to each other, i.e., one is an electron-acceptor and the other is a hole-acceptor. The nano-architected porous, film may be formed on a substrate by a surfactant temptation technique such as evaporation-induced self-assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disposing and supporting a solar panel array are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for supporting a solar panel array includes the use of support columns and cables suspended between the support columns, with the solar panels received by solar panel receivers that are adapted to couple to the cables. The solar panel array may then be used to provide power as well as shelter. Cooling, lighting, security, or other devices may be added to the solar panel array.