Abstract: A method for forming an array of elongated nanostructures, includes in one embodiment, providing a substrate, providing a template having a plurality of pores on the substrate, and removing portions of the substrate under the plurality of pores of the template to form a plurality of cavities. A catalyst is provided in the plurality of cavities in the substrate, and the pores of the template are widened to expose the substrate around the catalyst so that the catalyst is spaced from the sides of the plurality of pores of the template. A plurality of elongated nanostructures is grown from the catalyst spaced from the sides of the pores of the template.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell that comprises a planar semiconductor substrate with a front and a back; a multitude of holes that interconnect the front and the back; and current-collecting electrical contacts that are exclusively arranged on the back. The front comprises highly doped regions and lightly doped regions of a first type such that in each case the holes are situated in a highly doped region or adjoin such a region. According to a first aspect of the invention, the highly doped regions are arranged locally around the holes. According to a second aspect of the invention, the front comprises at least one region without holes, and the highly doped regions comprise one region or several regions that extends/extend to the at least one hole-free region. The invention furthermore relates to methods for manufacturing such solar cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film photovoltaic device and a method of forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The thin film photovoltaic device has a substrate, a thin film layer formed on the substrate and first and second electrodes formed on one side of the thin film layer. By applying an electric field over the first and second electrodes, the thin film layer is polarized in a direction parallel to the surface plane of the film. Upon exposure to light, the thin film layer converts light energy into electricity. According to the method, a thin film layer is formed on a substrate. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed on one side of the thin film layer. By applying an electric field over the first and second electrodes, the thin film layer is polarized in a direction parallel to the surface plane of the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of carbon nanostructures, the carbon nanostructures being selected from carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions. The method comprises the steps of injecting a carbon-containing gas into a plasma flame generated from a plasma forming gas to provide atomic carbon, which in the presence of in situ generated nanometer sized metal catalyst particles that act as nucleation points for growth of carbon nanostructures, produce the carbon nanostructures, and collecting the carbon nanostructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic film or sheet comprising two surface layers made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and at least one inner layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell module comprising at least one encapsulant layer derived therefrom, and a process of manufacturing the solar cell module.

Abstract: The field of the present invention relates to the field of batteries and of polymer electrolytes for batteries and more particularly to the field of lithium batteries. The invention relates to a composition which can be polymerized and/or crosslinked by dehydrocondensation for a battery electrolyte comprising: a) at least one organohydropolysiloxane (POS) (A) having, per molecule, at least 2 hydrogen atoms directly bonded to silicon atoms; b) at least one organohydroxypolysiloxane (POS) (B) having, per molecule, at least 2 —OH groups directly bonded to silicon atoms; c) an effective amount of a dehydrocondensation catalyst (C); and d) at least one electrolyte salt (D); with the condition that the POS (A) and/or the POS (B) comprise(s), per molecule, at least one siloxyl unit comprising at least one group directly bonded to a silicon atom comprising a polyoxyalkylene (Poa) ether functional group.

Abstract: A photovoltaic nanostructure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an electrically conductive nanocable coupled to a first electrode, a second electrode extending along at least two sides of the nanocable, and a photovoltaically active p-n junction formed between the nanocable and the second electrode. A photovoltaic array according to one embodiment includes a plurality of photovoltaic nanostructures as recited above. Methods for forming nanostructures are also presented.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that provides a flow of anode exhaust gas into the cathode side of the fuel cells without allowing the anode exhaust gas flow and the cathode input flow to mix in a large volume. In one embodiment, strategically positioned perforations in the MEAs allow the anode exhaust gas to cross over to the cathode channels near the cathode input. These perforations could be provided as an array of small holes in an MEA sub-gasket or an MEA carrier frame. In an alternate embodiment, openings are provided through the bipolar plates that allow the anode exhaust to flow into the cathode channels. This configuration would require a special anode half-plate at one end of the stack to provide the opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flow-field plate and fuel cell stack using the same. The flow-field plate of the present invention comprises a center hole (5) formed at the center of the flow-field plate, a inlet (6) and a outlet (7) formed on two positions near the outer edge of the flow-field plate, and flow grooves extending radially from the center hole (5) on one side of the flow-field plate. Since the flow-field plate according to the present invention may comprise flow grooves extending radially and having short flow path, which is benefit for reactants diffusion, there is no “dead-end” on the flow-field plate and reactants may distribute uniformly to each part of flow-field plate. Furthermore, resultants generated from reaction, such as water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc., may be discharged in time and not accumulate on flow-field plate. Therefore, the reactant utilization ratio, the fuel cell performances and its service life may be improved.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane with high durability is provided. The electrolyte membrane includes a porous film containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or a cyano group, and a proton conductive component existing in pores of the porous film, wherein the proton conductive component includes a polymer compound containing at least a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, a cyano group, and an acidic group in one molecule.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a PEM stack for providing power to the system in a start up or shut down operating mode and hydrogen to the fuel cell stack in a steady state operating mode.

Abstract: A process for producing bulk thermoelectric compositions containing nanoscale inclusions is described. The thermoelectric compositions have a higher figure of merit (ZT) than without the inclusions. The compositions are useful for power generation and in heat pumps for instance.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving energy is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support base and a plurality of cells. The support base comprises an electric terminal. The plurality of cells are mounted to the support base. Further, each of the plurality of cells is electrically connected to the electric terminal disposed on the support base. Finally, each of the plurality of cells is oriented in a non-parallel relationship with each neighboring cell.

Abstract: A method of enhancing water management capabilities of a fuel cell is disclosed. The method includes providing a fuel cell component having hydrophilic or weakly hydrophobic surfaces, increasing a hydrophobicity of at least one of said hydrophilic surfaces and assembling the fuel cell component into the fuel cell.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells (“SOFCs”) comprising ferritic stainless steel and having at least one via that when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature develops a scale comprising a manganese-chromate spinel on at least a portion of a surface thereof, and at least one gas flow channel that when subjected to an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature develops an aluminum-rich oxide scale on at least a portion of a surface thereof. Other embodiments relate to interconnects comprising a ferritic stainless steel and having a fuel side comprising metallic material that resists oxidation during operation of the SOFCs, and optionally include a nickel-base superalloy on the oxidant side thereof. Still other embodiments relate to ferritic stainless steels adapted for use as interconnects comprising ?0.1 weight percent aluminum and/or silicon, and >1 up to 2 weight percent manganese. Methods of making interconnects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A preform architecture and process for producing composite materials, and particularly CMC components. The process entails producing a composite component having a matrix material reinforced with a three-dimensional preform. The process includes producing first and second sets of tows containing filaments. Each tow of the first set has a predetermined cross-sectional shape and is embedded within a temporary matrix material formed of a material that is not the matrix material or a precursor of the matrix material. The preform is then fabricated from the first and second sets of tows, in which the second set of tows are transverse to the first set of tows, adjacent tows of the second set are spaced apart to define interstitial regions therebetween, and the cross-sectional shapes of the first set of tows are substantially congruent to the cross-sectional shapes of the interstitial regions so as to substantially fill the interstitial regions.

Abstract: A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 9 kg/cm2. Preferably, the CID includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate in electrical communication with the first conductive plate, the electrical communication between the first and the second conductive plates being interrupted at the minimal threshold internal gauge pressure. More preferably, the first conductive plate includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end. More preferably, the second conductive plate is in electrical contact with the essentially planar cap through a weld. A battery, preferably a lithium-ion battery, comprises a CID as described above.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoelectric device may include forming a pattern of conductive traces, and forming an electrically insulating matrix between the conductive traces of the pattern of conductive traces. In addition, a plurality of thermoelectric elements may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the pattern of conductive traces so that each conductive trace of the pattern of conductive traces has one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements thereon. In addition, the plurality of thermoelectric elements may be free of the electrically insulating matrix. Related methods and structures are also discussed.

Abstract: A solar cell comprises a substrate configured to have a plurality of via holes and a first conductive type, an emitter layer placed in the substrate and configured to have a second conductive type opposite to the first conductive type, a plurality of first electrodes electrically coupled to the emitter layer, a plurality of current collectors electrically coupled to the first electrodes through the plurality of via holes, and a plurality of second electrodes electrically coupled to the substrate. The plurality of via holes comprises at least two via holes having different angles.

Abstract: The present invention provides yellow inorganic pigments comprising praseodymium, oxides of transition metals selected from molybdenum, titanium, zirconium and combinations thereof, essentially molybdenum, optionally with alkaline earth metal (A) and the said yellow inorganic pigment has a general formula APr2MoTmxO6+? or Pr2MoTmxO6+? (Tm=Ti or Zr, x=0 or 1, and wherein ? has a value commensurate with the value of x and sufficient to satisfy the valencies of the formula). High purity chemicals such as MgCO3, CaCO3, SrCO3, BaCO3, TiO2, ZrO2, (NH4)6Mo7O24.4H2O and Pr6O11 are weighted in the stoichiometric ratio, ball milled and calcined in the range 900°-1200° C. for 3-12 hrs in air.