Abstract: Nanostructures and photovoltaic structures are disclosed. Methods for creating nanostructures are also presented.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric device includes providing a substrate having a plurality of inclined growth surfaces protruding from a surface thereof. Respective thermoelectric material layers are grown on the inclined growth surfaces, and the respective thermoelectric material layers coalesce to collectively define a continuous thermoelectric film. A surface of the thermoelectric film opposite the surface of the substrate may be substantially planar, and a crystallographic orientation of the thermoelectric film may be tilted at an angle of about 45 degrees or less relative to a direction along a thickness thereof. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: Providing a dye-sensitized solar cell having high durability and thermal resistance, and preventing elution of a platinum group catalyst from a catalytic electrode: by surface-treating the catalytic electrode with (a) a specific sulfur material having a molecular weight of 32 to 10,000 containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, (b) another specific sulfur material containing no sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, but containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of +1 to +4 [with the proviso that the sulfur material (b) is such a material that a surface of the surface-treated catalyst electrode has a photoelectron peak within a binding energy range of 161 to 165 eV in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum], or (c) a mixture of the sulfur materials (a) and (b); and/or by adding the sulfur material into the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A concentrating solar mirror panel assembly having a reflective sheet with a reflective major surface and an opposing major surface and a corrugated stiffener having ridges and troughs each having an outer surface with land areas, wherein the land areas of at least a portion of the ridges are joined to at least a portion of the opposing major surface of the reflective sheet. The concentrating solar mirror panel assembly is non-planar and substantially rigid. The concentrating solar mirror panel assembly is assembled such that a desired non-planar shape is maintained: either using a locking sheet or having the corrugated stiffener attached so that its principal axes of corrugation are substantially perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the assembly. Methods of making the concentrating solar mirror panel assembly are also disclosed. Concentrated solar power systems and solar collection devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating photovoltaic devices include forming a plurality of subcells in a vertically stacked arrangement on a semiconductor material, each of the subcells being formed at a different temperature than an adjacent subcell such that the adjacent subcells have differing effective band-gaps. The methods of fabricating also include inverting the structure, attaching another substrate to a second semiconductor material, and removing the substrate. For example, each of the subcells may comprise a III-nitride material, and each subsequent subcell may include an indium content different than the adjacent subcell. Novel structures may be formed using such methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a transparent electrode having a zinc oxide film wherein initial characteristics and humidity resistance during long-time use coexist; and a thin film solar cell provided with said electrode. The transparent electrode contains a transparent conductive layer mainly made of zinc oxide. The transparent conductive film preferably has the following characteristics: having surface irregularities; a carrier concentration of 9×1019 cm?3 or less; a crystal structure having a (110) preferred orientation; a ratio of a (110) peak intensity to a (002) peak intensity I(110)/I(002) measured by X-ray diffraction being 50 or more; and a crystallite with a (110) orientation has a size of: 23 nm or more and 50 nm or less, in a planar direction parallel to a substrate; and 30 nm or more and 60 nm or less, in a planar direction perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: A solar module is provided with improved photoelectric conversion efficiency. A first electrode and a second electrode (21, 22) each contain a plated film. Each plated film has a feed point (50). The feed points (50) are positioned in bus bar portions (21b, 22b). A wiring member (30) is connected electrically to the first electrode or the second electrode (21, 22) in the finger portions (21a, 22a).

Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device with high conversion efficiency in which the light loss due to light absorption in a window layer is significantly reduced by using a light-transmitting semiconductor layer comprising an organic compound and an inorganic compound. Specifically, the photoelectric conversion device includes: over one surface of a crystalline silicon substrate, a first silicon semiconductor layer; a light-transmitting semiconductor layer; a second silicon semiconductor layer which is partially formed on the light-transmitting semiconductor layer; and a first electrode. The photoelectric conversion device further includes: a third silicon semiconductor layer on the other surface of the crystalline silicon substrate; a fourth silicon semiconductor layer formed on the third silicon semiconductor layer; and a second electrode formed on the fourth silicon semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) cell structures having an integral light scattering interface layer configured to diffuse or scatter light prior to entering a semiconductor material and methods of making the same are described.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conductive material includes a carbon substance and a metallic substance mixed with and/or laminated to the carbon substance. The carbon substance has at least one dimension of 200 nm or less. The carbon substance includes a graphene selected from single-layered graphene and multi-layered graphene, a part of carbon atoms constituting the graphene is substituted with a nitrogen atom. The metallic substance includes at least one of a metallic particle and a metallic wire.

Abstract: In a solar cell, a collecting electrode is provided on a transparent electrode of a photoelectric conversion section having the transparent electrode on the outermost surface on one main surface side. The collecting electrode includes a first electroconductive layer and a second electroconductive layer in this order from the photoelectric conversion section side. Preferably, a self-assembled monolayer is formed on a region on the transparent electrode layer, which is not provided with the first electroconductive layer. A method for manufacturing the solar cell includes: forming a first electroconductive layer on a transparent electrode layer; forming a self-assembled monolayer on a region on the transparent electrode layer, which is not provided with the first electroconductive layer; and bringing the first electroconductive layer and a plating solution into contact with each other to form the second electroconductive layer by a plating method, in this order.

Abstract: A nanocomposite material that is both transparent and electrically conductive is provided. The nanocomposite comprises a nanoporous matrix, preferably formed from nanoparticles, that is internally coated with a transparent conductive material to define an internal conductive path within the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is substantially transparent over a defined spectral range that preferably includes at least a portion of the visible spectrum, and preferably comprises pores with a mean diameter of less than approximately 25 nm. A bilayer may be formed by depositing a layer of a transparent conductive material on top of a nanocomposite layer, or by depositing a second layer of a nanocomposite having different optical properties. The nanocomposites formed using a combination of sequential and/or concurrent deposition techniques are correspondingly discrete and/or continuously varying structures.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, hybrid solar cell-batteries, and other such devices may include an active layer having perovskite material and copper-oxide or other metal-oxide charge transport material. Such charge transport material may be disposed adjacent to the perovskite material such that the two are adjacent and/or in contact. Inclusion of both materials in an active layer of a photovoltaic device may improve device performance. Other materials may be included to further improve device performance, such as, for example: one or more interfacial layers, one or more mesoporous layers, and one or more dyes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an awning type solar protection device equipped with an electrical power production system, the device including a flexible panel, at least one photovoltaic panel arranged on the outer face of the flexible panel, a furling tube onto which the flexible panel is rolled and a system for tensioning the flexible panel during its deployment or its furling. According to the invention, the proximal edge of the flexible panel is fixed to the furling tube by forming around said furling tube a portion which cannot be unrolled. In addition, electrical connection means are arranged in the interior of the furling tube and pass through said furling tube on the portion of the flexible panel which cannot be unrolled, said electrical connection means being hooked up to the at least one photovoltaic panel at the proximal edge of the flexible panel.

Abstract: A package structure and a solar cell with the same are provided. The package structure includes a transparent package bulk and at least one structure capable of changing a direction of light. The structure is disposed within the transparent package bulk and at a distance from a surface of the transparent package bulk. When applied to a solar cell, the package structure can reduce gridline shading.

Abstract: A paste composition contains an electrically conductive silver powder, one or more glass frits or fluxes, and a lithium compound dispersed in an organic medium. The paste is useful in forming an electrical contact on the front side of a solar cell device having an insulating layer. The lithium compound aids in establishing a low-resistance electrical contact between the front-side metallization and underlying semiconductor substrate during firing.

Abstract: A high-concentration photovoltaic solar module is formed by a casing (1) that contains photovoltaic receivers (2) in the base (3) thereof, which are interconnected with one another, and in the upper part thereof has Fresnel concentrator lenses (7) in a plane parallel to that of the photovoltaic receivers (2), which close the casing in a leak-tight manner. Each of the Fresnel concentrator lenses (7) is arranged on one of the photovoltaic receivers (2). Furthermore, the module includes secondary optical elements (8), each arranged on the photovoltaic cell (5) of each photovoltaic receiver (2). The casing (1) is produced by injection-molding of plastic and incorporates cavities (9) in the base (3), each of the cavities housing a photovoltaic receiver (2), and metal laminar elements (10) for interconnecting the photovoltaic receivers (2).

Abstract: The present invention is premised’ upon an assembly that includes at least a photovoltaic building sheathing element capable of being affixed on a building structure, the photovoltaic building sheathing element. The element including a photovoltaic cell assembly, a body portion attached to one or more portions of the photovoltaic cell assembly; and at feast a first and a second connector assembly capable of directly or indirectly electrically connecting the photovoltaic cell assembly to one or more adjoining devices; wherein the body portion includes one or more geometric features adapted to engage a vertically adjoining device before installation.

Abstract: A solar panel cleaning device includes a solar panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in rows and embedded in the solar panel with space between the rows. A transparent dielectric overlay is affixed to the solar panel. A plurality of electrode pairs each of which includes an upper and a lower electrode are arranged on opposite sides of the transparent dielectric and are affixed thereto. The electrodes may be transparent electrodes which may be arranged without concern for blocking sunlight to the solar panel. The solar panel may be a dielectric and its dielectric properties may be continuously and spatially variable. Alternatively the dielectric used may have dielectric segments which produce different electrical field and which affects the wind “generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling and capturing energy in an electronic device using photovoltaic cells is disclosed. A power supply powers electronic components inside the electronic device. The electronic components produce heat and infrared energy. The photovoltaic cells convert the infrared energy into an electric current to reduce the overall heat level of the electronic device. A power recovery circuit conditions the electric current into a conditioned power signal usable by a system power path manager of the electronic device. The system power path manager uses the converted infrared energy to power the electronic device and/or to charge an energy storage unit.