Abstract: An end plate of an air breathing fuel cell stack and an air breathing fuel cell stack including the same. The air breathing fuel cell stack includes a membrane electrode assembly, including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte positioned between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and an end plate contacting the membrane electrode assembly. The end plate includes a first surface contacting the membrane electrode assembly, an opposing second surface; and a collector positioned at the first surface and contacting the cathode electrode.

Abstract: In a power output apparatus of the invention, a battery 36 is constructed by a lithium ion battery satisfying a first requirement of Sb/Pm2max>0.09 (m2/kW) as a relation of a total electrode area Sb of the battery to a rated output (maximum output) Pm2max of a motor MG2 in power operation and a second requirement of Sb/(|Pm1min+Pm2min|)>0.04 (m2/kW) as a relation of the total electrode area Sb of the battery to a rated output Pm1min of a motor MG1 in regenerative operation and a rated output Pm2min of the motor in regenerative operation. The lithium ion battery satisfying the first requirement and the second requirement ensures sufficient exertion of the drive characteristics of the motor MG2 and the power generation characteristics of both the motors MG1 and MG2.

Abstract: A solar cell includes negative metal contact fingers electrically connected to N-type diffusion regions of the solar cell and positive metal contact fingers electrically connected to P-type diffusion regions of the solar cell. Both the N-type and P-type diffusion regions are on the backside of the solar cell. The solar cell includes a front side that faces the sun during normal operation. The negative and positive metal contact fingers may be interdigitated. For increased solar radiation collection, the metal contact fingers may be arranged to point to and collectively cover portions of a perimeter of a solder pad. For example, the negative metal contact fingers may be arranged to point to and collectively cover two or three sides of a solder pad.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic devices, a first filling material formed by a resin having a first soften temperature which is disposed in an area where the photovoltaic devices are disposed, a second filling material having a second soften temperature which is disposed in an area other than the area where the photovoltaic devices are disposed, a front surface protecting material disposed on the first filling material and the second filling material. The second soften temperature is higher than the first soften temperature.

Abstract: A substrate is provided including a growth surface that is offcut relative to a plane defined by a crystallographic orientation of the substrate at an offcut angle of about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees. A thermoelectric film is epitaxially grown on the growth surface. A crystallographic orientation of the thermoelectric film may be tilted about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees relative to the growth surface. The growth surface of the substrate may also be patterned to define a plurality of mesas protruding therefrom prior to epitaxial growth of the thermoelectric film. Related methods and thermoelectric devices are also discussed.

Abstract: A bifacial thin film solar cell and method for fabricating the same are provided. The solar cell has a first and a second transparent substrates, a first and a second solar cell modules, and an insulating layer. The first solar cell module is formed on the first transparent substrate, and has a metal layer as one of the electrodes of the first solar cell module and as a light reflection layer. The insulating layer is formed on the metal layer of the first solar cell module. The second solar cell module is formed between the insulating layer and the second transparent substrate.

Abstract: A package for microelectronic circuits includes a frame made of a high molecular weight plastic material, such as a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), attached to a flange, or leadframe. The plastic material is injection molded to the flange. Initial polymerization of the plastic material can occur in a liquid state and results in an intermediate material having an initial melting temperature. After the frame is injection molded, the frame is heated and undergoes further (secondary) polymerization, thereby lengthening polymer chains in the plastic material. These longer polymer chains have higher molecular weight, and the resulting final material has a higher melting temperature, than the intermediate material. The resulting ultra-high molecular weight polymer can withstand high temperatures, such as those encountered during soldering. Thus, after the further (secondary) polymerization, a die can be soldered to the flange, without damaging the plastic frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a power storage device capable of preventing reduced energy efficiency of the power storage device and of avoiding variations in temperature distribution. The power storage device includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer placed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and including a group of particles, wherein the density of particles in a first area of the solid electrolyte layer is lower than the density of particles in a second area which has higher heat radiation than the first area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photo-electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a conductive substrate; a meso-porous metal oxide thin film formed on the surface of the conductive substrate; a porous film formed on the meso-porous metal oxide thin film and comprising metal oxide nanoparticles; and a photosensitive dye adsorbed on the surface of the porous film; and a process for preparation thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic dye having a specific structure, a photoelectric conversion material containing the dye, a semiconductor electrode formed of a substrate having an electrically conductive surface, a semiconductor layer coated on the electrically conductive surface and the above dye adsorbed on the surface, and a photoelectric conversion device to which the above dye is applied. The present invention uses the above dye and can therefore provide a photoelectric conversion device excellent in photoelectric conversion efficiency, and the photoelectric conversion device is suitable for use in a solar cell or the like.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell system that is capable of sensing unintended gas leakage from a discharge control means based on odor. A fuel cell system is provided with a bypass passage 32 connecting a fuel offgas passage 30 at inlet of a odorant removal unit 40 to the fuel offgas passage 30 in the vicinity of outlet of the odorant removal unit 40, and the fuel cell system facilitates the removal of odor from the discharged fuel offgas, by closing a bypass valve 33 in conjunction with opening a purge valve 31, and suppresses the removal of odor, by opening the bypass valve 33 in conjunction with stop of discharge of fuel offgas caused by closing the purge valve 31.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separator plate for use in a fuel cell and to a fuel cell. The separator plate has: a passage groove group including a plurality of gas passage grooves 35 formed so as to extend in serpentine form; and a communicating groove 33 configured to provide fluid communication between adjacent portions of the gas passage grooves. Various separator plates have heretofore been disclosed in public by many documents and the blockage of the gas passage grooves caused by condensed water droplets formed therein is deemed to be properly prevented. However, the inventors think that those separator plates have a critical oversight in the behavior of a gas-liquid two phase fluid including a reaction gas and condensed water. That is, the condensed water is likely to concentrate in the vicinity of the gas passage grooves located in the downstream side of such separator plates and therefore these separator plates are liable to blockage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery. The secondary battery includes a battery can serving as a positive electrode terminal or a negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery, an electrically conductive substrate provided at an outer portion of the battery can, and a nonconductive film interposed between the battery can and the electrically conductive substrate in order to insulate the electrically conductive substrate from the battery can, wherein the electrically conductive substrate is electrically connected to an electrode terminal having polarity opposite to that of the battery can. Safety of the secondary battery is ensured even if the secondary battery is subject to external parameters, such as penetration of a sharp tool (e.g. a nail or a drill tip), pressing force of a tool (e.g. a nipper), external impact, and exposure to the high temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing high purity polycrystalline silicon comprises a vertical reactor, a vaporizer and a fusing evaporator for supplying gaseous silicon chloride and zinc, respectively. The fusing evaporator further comprises a zinc evaporator, a main vertical cylinder part connected to the upper part of the zinc evaporator, a solid trapping pipe inserted in the main vertical cylinder part, a zinc introducing pipe connected to the solid trapping pipe at an angle, a seal pot surrounding the lower portion of the solid trapping pipe, an induction heater surrounding the main vertical cylinder part, and a gas vent pipe connected to the side wall of the zinc evaporator.

Abstract: The fuel cell of this invention includes at least one unit cell that includes: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode; an anode-side separator in contact with the anode and having a fuel flow path for supplying a fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator in contact with the cathode and having an oxidant flow path for supplying an oxidant to the cathode. The fuel flow path has a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and each of the first flow channel and the second flow channel has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are adjacent to each other, and the direction of the flow of fuel through the first flow channel is opposite to the direction of the flow of fuel through the second flow channel.

Abstract: Degradation of catalyst activity for silicoaluminophosphate catalysts is minimized for oxygenate-to-olefin reaction systems that are exposed to airborne salt concentrations above a threshold value. When airborne salt concentrations above the threshold value are detected, an air intake flow can be diverted into a cleaning flow path and/or an alternative source of regeneration media can be provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a polymer containing a first comonomer repeat unit and a second comonomer repeat unit. The first comonomer repeat unit includes a cyclopentadithiophene moiety. The second comonomer repeat unit includes a thienothiophene moiety, a thienothiophene tetraoxide moiety, a dithienothiophene moiety, a dithienothiophene dioxide moiety, a dithienothiophene tetraoxide moiety, or a tetrahydroisoindole moiety. The polymer can be used as a photoactive material in a photovoltaic cell. This disclosure also relates to such photovoltaic cells, as well as modules containing such photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a polymer containing a first comonomer repeat unit and a second comonomer repeat unit different from the first comonomer repeat unit. The first comonomer repeat unit includes a cyclopentadithiophene moiety. The polymer can be used as a photoactive material in a photovoltaic cell. This disclosure also relates to such photovoltaic cells, as well as modules containing such photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A flexible optical disk, includes a disk substrate, wherein a rigidity of the disk is equal to or more than 5 Pa and equal to or less than 5000 Pa where the rigidity is defined as Young's modulus of the disk×(thickness of the disk/radius of the disk)3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to planar electrochemical sensors with membrane coatings used to perform chemical analyses. The object of this invention is to provide unit-use disposable sensors of very simple and inexpensive construction, preferably with only a single membrane coating on an electrode. The invented devices are potentiometric salt-bridge reference electrodes and dissolved gas sensors constructed with a heterogeneous membrane coating of a conductor. The heterogeneous membrane, which is an intimate admixture of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic compartment, concurrently supports constrained transport of non-volatile species through its hydrophilic compartment and rapid gas and water vapor transport through its hydrophobic compartment.