Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of hydrogen peroxide from an electrochemical (EC) cell arrangement. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises an EC cell having anode and cathode electrodes with a cation exchange membrane disposed between them to form anode and cathode compartments. An aqueous salt solution is supplied to the anode compartment and water and oxygen are supplied to the cathode compartment. An electric potential applied across the anode and cathode electrodes initiates an electrochemical process that results in the formation of an acid anolyte solution in the anode compartment and an alkaline catholyte solution in the cathode compartment. The anolyte solution and the catholyte solution are combined in a neutralizing chamber to form a neutral aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, salt, and water. The hydrogen peroxide is separated from the neutral aqueous solution by conventional means.

Abstract: A solar cell is provided as one capable of increasing the open voltage when compared with the conventional solar cells. A solar cell according to the present invention has a p-type semiconductor layer containing a group Ib element, a group IIIb element, and a group VIb element, and an n-type semiconductor layer containing a group Ib element, a group IIIb element, a group VIb element, and Zn and formed on the p-type semiconductor layer. A content of the group Ib element in the n-type semiconductor layer is from 15 to 21 at. % to the total number of atoms of the group Ib element, the group IIIb element, the group VIb element, and Zn in the n-type semiconductor layer, and a content of Zn in the n-type semiconductor layer is from 0.005 to 1.0 at. % to the total number of atoms of the group Ib element, the group IIIb element, the group VIb element, and Zn in the n-type semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus includes a second groove so formed as to cut at least an intermediate layer, an insulating member so formed as to cover at least a cut portion of the intermediate layer in the second groove and extend along an upper surface of a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a third groove so formed as to pass through a first photoelectric conversion layer, the intermediate layer, the second photoelectric conversion layer and the insulating member on a region opposite to a first groove with respect to the second groove, wherein the insulating member is so formed as to extend up to at least a region opposite to the first groove with respect to the third groove.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of production of a separator for a solid polymer type fuel cell characterized by shaping a substrate comprised of stainless steel, titanium, or a titanium alloy and then spraying the substrate surface with superhard core particles comprised of conductive compound particles of an average particle size of 0.01 to 20 ?m mixed with a coating material and coated on their surfaces under conditions of a spray pressure of 0.4 MPa or less and a spray amount per cm2 of the substrate of 10 to 100 g in blast treatment. The ratio of the conductive compound to the mass of the core particles is 0.5 to 15 mass %.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a TEG module, in particular for a power source (10), comprising a space (14) at least partially delimited by walls (16), at least one thermoelectric generator (20) for the conversion of heat into electricity, in which at least one electrically insulated wall part is in thermally conducting contact with a first side (52) of the thermo-electric generator (20), and the second side (54) is in heat-exchanging connection with an electrically insulated discharge element (12) for discharging heat used by the thermoelectric generator, as well as electrical conductors connected to the first and second side respectively (52, 54) for the conduction of generated electricity, with thermally conducting pressure means for applying pressure to the said second side being provided between the second side (54) and the discharge element (12), the said means comprises a thermally conducting flexible container (50), which is filled with a pressure medium in a state of over-press

Abstract: A donor silicon wafer may be bonded to a substrate and a lamina cleaved from the donor wafer. A photovoltaic cell may be formed from the lamina bonded to the substrate. An intermetal stack is described that is optimized for use in such a cell. The intermetal stack may include a titanium layer in contact with the lamina, which reacts to form titanium silicide, a non-reactive barrier layer to check the silicide reaction, a low-resistance layer, and an adhesion layer to help adhesion to the receiver element.

Abstract: A sealed monolithic photo-electrochemical system including an electrically insulating substrate, an electrically conducting pattern having carrier areas arranged to support working electrodes, contact portions connected to counter electrodes, a first set of contact paths connecting the carrier areas with a first terminal, and a second set of contact paths connecting the contact portions with a second terminal. The system further includes an array of porous structures arranged on the substrate, where each porous structure includes a working electrode, an insulating layer and a counter electrode, an electrolyte at least partially filled in the porous structures for forming a plurality of electrochemical cells and an encapsulation covering the array of porous structures, and a method for manufacturing a sealed monolithic electrochemical system.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a transparent conductor film stack with cadmium stannate used as a front contact layer and/or a buffer layer in a photovoltaic device or the like. The cadmium stannate-based layers may be provided between the front glass substrate and the semiconductor absorber film in a photovoltaic device (e.g., a CdS and/or CdTe based photovoltaic device). In certain example embodiments, the buffer layer based on cadmium stannate may have a higher resistivity than the transparent conductive oxide layer based on cadmium stannate. In certain example embodiments, one or more index matching layer(s) may be provided between the glass substrate and the layer(s) comprising cadmium stannate, e.g., to help overcome the optical mismatch between the glass substrate and the CdSnOx.

Abstract: A solar cell includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; uneven patterns disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first impurity layer disposed on the uneven patterns and which includes a first part having a first doping concentration and a second part having a second doping concentration greater than the first doping concentration; and a first electrode which contacts the second part of the first impurity layer and does not contact the first part of the first impurity layer.

Abstract: A means of providing solar powered electricity for day and nighttime use supported in part by power from the grid to allow a small generator to electrify the home or business with a small generator operating with much larger capacity. Excess solar energy is provided to the power company as needed.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion system is presented. The system comprises at least one waveguide arrangement having at least one light input respectively. The waveguide arrangement comprises a core unit for passing input solar radiation therethrough and a cladding material arrangement interfacing with the core therealong. The cladding material arrangement is configured as an array of spaced-apart solar cells arranged along the core unit and having different optical absorption ranges, such that an interface between the waveguide core and the cladding arrangement spectrally splits the photons of the input solar radiation by causing the photons of different wavelengths, while passing through the core unit, to be successively absorbed and thereby converted into electricity by the successive solar cells of said array.

Abstract: A power system including a primary optical element that defines a first opening therein, a secondary optical element positioned relative to the primary optical element to direct energy from the primary optical element to the first opening, and a thermal absorber, wherein the thermal absorber includes a housing that defines an internal volume and a second opening into the internal volume, wherein the second opening is coupled with the first opening, a window sealingly connected to the second opening to enclose the internal volume, a barrier wall that divides the internal volume into at least a hot chamber and a cold chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell having a first portion received in the cold chamber and a second portion received in the hot chamber.

Abstract: A mounting system is provided for solar modules with a compressable retention structure for solar modules. The retention structure may interleave a upper and lower rail that provides a shelf or other support structure in order to hold a solar module or panel in an operative position. The upper and lower rails may be compressed towards one another in order to cause the support structure to retain the solar modules or panels.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell module of see-through type having cells connected in series and disposed on an opaque substrate with holes is provided. The thin film solar cell module includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on the opaque substrate and is composed of a first comb electrode and block-like first electrodes. The second electrode is disposed above the first electrode and is composed of a second comb electrode and block-like second electrodes. A portion of the block-like first electrodes, a portion of the opaque substrate, and the holes are exposed between the second comb electrode and the block-like second electrodes. The second comb electrode and the first comb electrode are disposed symmetrically, and the block-like first electrodes and the block-like second electrodes are disposed by parallel displacement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel polymer Li-ion battery electrode slice and a method for preparing the same. The electrode slice comprises a two-layer composite structure of electrode active material/gel electrolyte or a three-layer composite structure of electrode active material/gel electrolyte/electrode active material.

Abstract: A system controller for position controlling a photovoltaic (PV) panel in a PV system including a power sensor sensing output power (P), and a motor for positioning the PV panel. The system controller includes a computing device having memory that provides motor control signals and implements an iterative adaptive control (IAC) algorithm stored in the memory for adjusting an angle of the PV panel. The IAC algorithm includes an iterative relation that relates P at current time k (P(k)), its elevation angle at k (?s (k)), P after a next step (P(k+1)) and its elevation angle at k+1 (?s (k+1)). The IAC algorithm generates a perturbed power value P(k+1) to provide a power perturbation to P(k), and calculates a position angle ?S (k+1) of the PV panel using the perturbed power value. The motor control signals from the computing device cause the motor to position the PV panel to achieve ?S (k+1).

Abstract: Thin film photovoltaic devices are generally provided. The device can include a transparent conductive oxide layer on a glass substrate, an n-type thin film layer on the transparent conductive layer, and a p-type thin film layer on the n-type layer. The n-type thin film layer and the p-type thin film layer form a p-n junction. An anisotropic conductive layer is applied on the p-type thin film layer, and includes a polymeric binder and a plurality of conductive particles. A metal contact layer can then be positioned on the anisotropic conductive layer.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to an electrode (e.g., front electrode) for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. In certain example embodiments, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) based front electrode for use in a photovoltaic device is of or includes zinc oxide, or zinc aluminum oxide, doped with yttrium (Y). In certain example embodiments, the addition of the yttrium (Y) to the conductive zinc oxide or zinc aluminum oxide is advantageous in that potential conductivity loss of the electrode can be reduced or prevented. In other example embodiments, a low-E coating may include a layer of or including zinc oxide, or zinc aluminum oxide, doped with yttrium (Y).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a negative electrode includes: a first step of forming a plurality of columnar active material blocks capable of electrochemically storing and releasing lithium ions on the surface of a current collector; and a second step of disposing particulate lithium in the gaps between the active material blocks.