Abstract: Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel connected to the torque tube, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly includes a first end pivotably connected to the torque tube and a second end pivotably connected to the column. A shell defines a fluid chamber and a piston is positioned within the shell. The piston includes a seal and defines compression and extension portions of the fluid chamber. A flow path extends between the compression portion and the extension portions. A first valve assembly controls fluid flow in a first direction through the flow path and a second valve assembly controls fluid flow in a second direction through the flow path. The valve assemblies are each passively moveable from an unlocked state to a locked state in response to movement of the piston.

Abstract: A porous silicon-containing composite includes: a porous core including a porous silicon composite secondary particle; and a shell on at least one surface of the porous core, the shell including a first graphene, wherein the porous silicon composite secondary particle includes an aggregate of a first primary particle including silicon, a second primary particle including a structure and second graphene on at least one surface of the first primary particle and the second primary particle, and wherein at least one of a shape and a degree of oxidation of the first primary particle and the second primary particle are different. Also an electrode including the porous silicon-containing composite, a lithium battery including the electrode, and a device including the porous silicon-containing composite or the carbon composite.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotating pole, a first set of photovoltaic modules; and a second set of photovoltaic modules. The second set of photovoltaic modules do not rotate with the rotating pole.

Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising one or more tracker rotation control systems that include: a curved gear plate; and a locking element configured to lock the solar tracker system in a first configuration.

Abstract: A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.

Abstract: A novel lithium battery cathode, a lithium ion battery using the same and processes and preparation thereof are disclosed. The battery cathode is formed by force spinning. Fiber spinning allows for the formation of core-shell materials using material chemistries that would be incompatible with prior spinning techniques. A fiber spinning apparatus for forming a coated fiber and a method of forming a coated fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of generating electricity from light, that uses a photovoltaic array, that includes a junction between an inorganic electron-donating layer and an inorganic electron-accepting layer. The electron-donating layer includes moieties which after photon activation have unpaired electrons, and wherein some of the electrons are freed when light strikes the electron-donating layer, thereby transforming the moieties into free radicals or equivalents but many of the freed electrons recombine. Also, many of the free radicals or equivalents in the triplet state are optimally responsive to a selective magnetic field that has been determined to optimally increase the lifetime of the triplet state of the free radicals and thereby forestall recombination of the freed electrons into the free radicals. A magnetic field of substantially the optimal strength that is substantially unvarying over the electron donating layer is created as the array is being exposed to light.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a nuclear thermionic avalanche cell (NTAC) systems and related methods of generating energy comprising a radioisotope core, a plurality of thin-layered radioisotope sources configured to emit high energy beta particles and high energy photons, and a plurality of NTAC layers integrated with the radioisotope core and the radioisotope sources, wherein the plurality of NTAC layers are configured to receive the beta particles and the photons from the radioisotope core and sources, and by the received beta particles and photons, free up electrons in an avalanche process from deep and intra bands of an atom to output a high density avalanche cell thermal energy through a photo-ionic or thermionic process of the freed up electrons.

Abstract: A solar panel supporting base or structure configured to allow one or more predominantly horizontal solar panels to be lifted or tilted to a vertical position, thereby facilitating maintenance or cleaning of the solar panel or underlying surface.

Abstract: A silicon-based anode material, a preparation method thereof and a lithium ion battery are provided. The preparation method of the silicon-based anode material includes: passing a silicon substrate material through a vapor deposition gas to coat the surface of the silicon substrate material with a carbon deposition layer, the vapor deposition gas includes a first carbon source gas and a second carbon source gas, the volume percentage of the first carbon source gas and the second carbon source gas in the vapor deposition gas increases or decreases at different reaction stages for forming the carbon deposition layer. The side of the carbon deposited layer close to the silicon base material is more or less dense than the other side of the carbon deposited layer. The coating layer on the surface of the silicon-based anode material has a continuously changing junction, thereby greatly improving the cycling stability of the material.

Abstract: A deployable solar array apparatus. There is a telescoping mast, being actuatable between an extended mode and a retracted mode; a pivoting head, coupled to a top portion of the telescoping mast; a plurality of arms, circumferentially and pivotally coupled to the head and extending outwardly therefrom, and actuatable between an extended mode and a retracted mode; and a plurality of solar panels coupled to exterior surfaces of the head and arms.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses providing flexible conductive substrates for nanomaterial/perovskite-based optoelectronic devices. One such apparatus may include a flexible conductive substrate, a nanomaterial layer disposed on the flexible conductive substrate, and a perovskite layer disposed on the nanomaterial layer. The flexible conductive substrate may be a cost-effective metal sheet such as a stainless steel sheet or an aluminum sheet. The nanomaterial layer may comprise semiconductor or oxide nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, or nanoparticles, such as gadolinium-doped zinc oxide nanorods. The perovskite layer may comprise inorganic or organic perovskite. The apparatus may further include an optically transparent conductive layer disposed on the perovskite layer. Optionally, the apparatus may include an electrical contact disposed on a portion of the optically transparent conductive layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a simple, lightweight, cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and strong system for mounting solar panel tiles (or other tiles/panels) over a roof (surface). The system includes frames (footage) parallelly positioned over the surface using reference bars passing through the frames, and bolts/screws to couple the frames to the surface. The frames include C-shaped grooves at both ends. Each groove is configured with a flat spring that is coupled to the grooves using a spring fixing bracket. Further, Z-shaped clamps are coupled at the bottom surface of the tiles to form a tile assembly. The spring is adapted to be pressed upon application of a force while mounting the tile assembly in the frames, which allows one side of the tile assembly, and the Z-shaped clamp on the other side of the tile assembly to be accommodated and locked in the two opposite C-shaped grooves of the frames.

Abstract: A sulfide solid electrolyte containing the following (A) and (B): (A) a sulfide solid electrolyte having an argyrodite-type crystal structure; and (B) a sulfide solid electrolyte having a crystal structure different from the argyrodite-type crystal structure of the above-mentioned (A).

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a photovoltaic solar roof tile assembly can include forming a laminated structure by laminating one or more sheets that include at least one photovoltaic solar cell, and attaching a junction box to the laminated structure to form a photovoltaic solar panel. The junction box can include a first DC connector and a second DC connector. Attaching the junction box to the laminated structure can include sealing the first DC connector to the laminated structure. The method of manufacture can include forming a roof tile with a hole that extends from a front side of the roof tile to a rear side of the roof tile, and locating the junction box in the hole by inserting the first DC connector from a front side of the roof tile and attaching the second DC connector from the rear side.

Abstract: A flexible battery may include: a first electrode assembly including one or more unit cells, each having a pair of electrodes with a separator interposed therebetween; a single electrode; and a second electrode assembly connected to the first electrode assembly or to the single electrode and including a single electrode and a separator covering a top and bottom of the single electrode of the second electrode assembly.

Abstract: Provided are a locking device, a photovoltaic module mounting structure and a photovoltaic system. The locking device includes a blocking portion, a plug portion, and a guide portion. The blocking portion protrudes from the guide rail and is provided with a clamping groove for clamping a frame of the solar module. The plug portion is connected to the blocking portion, and the plug portion is configured to be in plug-in fit with the guide rail. The guide portion is connected to the blocking portion and provided with a guide ramp, one end of the guide ramp is flush with a notch of the clamping groove, and the other end of the guide ramp extends obliquely downward along a length direction of the guide rail.

Abstract: Composites comprising an exfoliated graphite support material having a degree of graphitization g in an range of 50 to 93%, obtained by XRD Rietveld analysis, which is coated with ZnO nanoparticles.

Abstract: A solar panel mounting system including a rail and a clip. When a first notch of the rail receives a portion of a rib of the rail, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a first solar panel having a first thickness, and when a second notch of the rail receives the portion of the rib, the clip is positioned on the rail to receive an end of a second solar panel having a second thickness different than the first thickness of the first solar panel.

Abstract: A deflection pad may include a body including two peaks, and a recess in the body between the two peaks, the recess may be sized to accommodate a fastener such that when deployed, the fastener is below a height of the two peaks within the recess. The deflection pad may include arms projecting in a direction generally opposite the two peaks, the arms biased inward towards the recess. The deflection pad may be included in a system that includes a torsion beam and one or more support racks to which multiple PV modules may be attached, where the support are racks attached to the torsion beam. One or more deflection pads may be positioned on the support racks to be below the PV modules.