Abstract: A method of manufacture of I-III-VI-absorber photovoltaic cells involves sequential deposition of films comprising one or more of silver and copper, with one or more of aluminum indium and gallium, and one or more of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, as compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite absorber layer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of photovoltaic cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer of substitutions such as tellurium near the base contact and silver near the heterojunction partner layer, or through gradations in indium and gallium content. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in gallium at a base of the layer, and silver at the top of the layer. In an embodiment, each sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium, which react in-situ to form CIGS.

Abstract: A SolarTurf unit has a plurality of solar blades, each blade comprising a donor-acceptor conjugated polymer (DA-CP) disposed between and electrically contacting a working electrode and a counter electrode where at least one of electrodes is transparent and where the plurality of solar blades have like or different DA-CPs having like color or different colors, for example, green. The SolarTurf unit includes an interconnect strip having a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface separated by an insulator. The working electrodes are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive surface and the counter electrodes are electrically connected to the second electrically conductive surface. The SolarTurf units can be combined into a device for harvesting light energy to provide an electric output. The SolarTurf device can have the appearance of a lawn or other plant, fungi, rock, sand or animal.

Abstract: An interchangeable and fully adjustable solar thermal-photovoltaic concentrator system is provided, comprising: one or more heat collecting elements; one or more primary reflectors having one or more openings; one or more sunray directing optical mechanisms at the sun-collecting side of primary reflectors and between the heat collecting elements and openings in the primary reflectors; one or more PV cell modules disposed at the non-sun-collecting side of the primary reflectors; and one or more sunray distributing optical mechanisms disposed at the non-sun-collecting side of the primary reflectors. Wherein after sunrays irradiate to the primary reflectors, a proportion of sunrays ranging from 0% to 100% are reflected to one or more heat collecting elements and the remaining sunrays are directed by the sunray directing optical mechanisms, through openings in the primary reflectors, and distributed by the sunray distributing optical mechanisms to one or more PV cell modules.

Abstract: A method and a device for converting energy uses chemical reactions in close proximity to or on a surface to convert a substantial fraction of the available chemical energy of the shorter lived energized products, such as vibrationally excited chemicals and hot electrons, directly into a useful form, such as longer lived charge carriers in a semiconductor. The carriers store the excitation energy in a form that may be converted into other useful forms, such as electricity, nearly monochromatic electromagnetic radiation or carriers for stimulating other surface reactions.

Abstract: A solar receiver including a housing defining an internal volume divided into at least a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the second chamber is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the housing further defining a first opening into the first chamber, a second opening into the first chamber and a third opening into the second chamber, a generally transparent cover connected to the housing to generally seal the first opening, and a thermal energy storage material received in the first chamber, the thermal energy storage material including a thermally conductive material defining an internal chamber and a salt received in the internal chamber.

Abstract: Power is generated using a thermoelectric power generation unit. The thermoelectric power generation unit has at least one thermoelectric module disposed between a first heat sink arranged inside the thermoelectric power generation unit and a second heat sink arranged outside the thermoelectric power generation unit. The thermoelectric power generation unit is inserted into a ducting network carrying relatively hot air during some periods of time and relatively cold air during other periods of time so that the relatively hot and cold air flows through the thermoelectric power generation unit during the different periods of time. The thermoelectric power generation unit generates power when the ducting network carries either the relatively hot or cold air. Energy is stored at least partially based on the power generated by the thermoelectric power generation unit.

Abstract: A micro-combustion power system is disclosed. The invention is comprised of a housing that further comprises two flow path volumes, each having generally opposing flow path directions and each generally having opposing configurations. Each flow path volume comprises a pre-heating volume having at least one pre-heating heat exchange structure. Each flow path volume further comprises a combustion volume having a combustion means or structure such as a catalytic material disposed therein Further, each flow path volume comprise a post-combustion volume having at least one post-combustion heat exchange structure. One or more thermoelectric generator means is in thermal communication with at least one of the combustion volumes whereby thermal energy generated by an air/fuel catalytic reaction in the combustion volume is transferred to the thermoelectric generator to convert same to electrical energy for use by an external circuit.

Abstract: A new photovoltaic (PV) cell structure, prepared on transparent substrate with transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer and having nanorod zinc oxide layer. The cell has a thin conductive layer of doped zinc oxide deposited on the nanorod zinc oxide layer, an extremely thin blocking layer of titanium oxide or indium sulfide on the thin conductive layer, a buffer layer of indium sulfide on the extremely thin blocking layer, an absorber layer, comprising copper indium disulfide on said buffer layer and one electrode attached to the transparent conductive oxide layer and a second electrode attached to the absorber layer. Also, a method of preparing a zinc oxide nanorod PV cell entirely by chemical spray pyrolysis is disclosed. Efficiency up to 3.9% is achieved by simple continuous non-vacuum process.

Abstract: A system and method is presented that uses solar power driven expansion of an electrolytic solution to force the electrolytic solution from a container through at least one pore of an insulator having a fixed surface charge of one polarity into a collection receptacle. The velocities of the cations and anions flowing through the pore differ because of the fixed surface charge of the pore and this produces an electrical charge separation, the streaming potential, as a source of electrical power. Energy absorption spans the full solar spectrum including infrared, visible and near ultraviolet wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention provides strategies for providing photovoltaic devices that are more resistant to moisture and/or oxygen degradation and the accompanying migration of key elements such as Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements from the absorber layer and that have enhanced service life and improved performance. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of chalcogenide-based photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. These strategies incorporate a barrier region between the photovoltaic absorber region and the front side collection grid. The barrier region keeps moisture and/or oxygen from the absorber layer and contains key elements such as Na, Li, and Ln in the absorber layer. As a result, the absorber layer retains its performance capabilities for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a compound represented by Formula 1: AaRbG3±n??Formula 1 wherein component A includes at least one element selected from a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, and a metal of Groups 3 to 12, component R is a rare-earth element, component G includes at least one element selected from sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), and indium (In), 0<a?1, 0<b?1, and 0?n<1.

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: Provided is a photoelectric conversion device in which the conductivity after hydrogen-plasma exposure is set within an appropriate range, thereby suppressing the leakage current and improving the conversion efficiency. A photoelectric conversion device includes, on a substrate, a photoelectric conversion layer having at least two power generation cell layers, and an intermediate contact layer provided between the power generation cell layers. The intermediate contact layer mainly contains a compound represented by Zn1-xMgxO (0.096?x?0.183).

Abstract: A foldable solar energy collector has a base and a panel body. The base has an elevatable telescopic shaft mounted thereon. The panel body has a bottom board and multiple side panels pivotally mounted around a perimeter of the bottom board. Two foldable panels are respectively and pivotally mounted on two edges of each side panel. A link assembly is pivotally mounted between the panel body and the telescopic shaft and has multiple inside and outside links pivotally connected to each other. One end of each inside link away from a corresponding outside link is pivotally mounted on the telescopic shaft. One end of each outside link away from a corresponding inside link is pivotally mounted between adjacent two of the foldable panels. When the telescopic shaft is elevated, the link assembly is pulled to drive the panel body to unfold or fold, rendering convenience in operation and storage.

Abstract: A device for creating microgradients in solution is disclosed. The device contains a microfluidic channel with openings at each end and two or more small apertures to a bath. Electrodes are placed in the openings at either end of the channel and an electrical power supply is connected to the electrodes. Several distinct current paths exist from one end of the channel to the other. For example current may flow from one electrode, through a portion of the channel, through an aperture into the bath, back through another aperture into the channel, and along another portion of the channel to the other electrode. Current flows along all possible connected paths when an electric field is applied along the channel and induces fluid flow into and out of the apertures in the channel. Fluid flow through the apertures results in the formation of microgradients in solution near the microfluidic channel device.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation apparatus includes a thermoelectric device having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a first thermal energy storage unit operatively coupled to the first surface of the thermoelectric device setting the first surface at a first temperature. The thermoelectric power generation apparatus also includes a second thermal energy storage unit having a second temperature, the second thermal energy unit for setting the second surface of the thermoelectric device at an operative temperature in response to a temperature difference between the first temperature of the first surface and the second temperature of the second thermal energy storage unit. The thermoelectric device generates power in response to a temperature differential between the first temperature of the first surface and the operative temperature of the second surface.

Abstract: A compact power supply and battery substitute has a cylindrical wall with combustion air and cooling air fans at opposite ends. Air and fuel vapor flows through a mixing tube and an Omega recuperator to a combustion chamber and heats IR emitters spaced from TPV cells. An emitter post array or a catalytic matched emitter are heated by combustion. Exhaust is conducted through the recuperator that heats secondary air and fuel vapors and air in a mixing tube. Cooling air flows over fins radially extending from the TPV cells and past the recuperator and, mixes with exhaust from the recuperators and flows out of the housing past the combustion air fan. Fans are self-powered, and resulting electric power replaces batteries.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cell contacts and cells therewith are disclosed. In general, the invention provides a solar cell comprising a contact made from a mixture wherein, prior to firing, the mixture comprises at least one aluminum source, at least one source of a metal including one or more of boron, titanium, nickel, tin, gallium zinc, indium, and copper, and about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a glass component. Within the mixture, the overall content of aluminum is about 50 wt % to about 85 wt % of the mixture, and the overall combined content of boron, nickel, tin, silver, gallium, zinc, indium, copper, is about 0.05 to about 40 wt % of the mixture.

Abstract: A solar AMTEC power system including a support structure, an electric generator segment connected to the support structure, the electric generator segment including a receiver and at least two wings extending at a non-zero angle relative to the receiver, wherein each wing defines an enclosed volume divided into a hot chamber and a cold chamber and includes at least one AMTEC cell extending between the hot chamber and the cold chamber, and wherein the receiver is at least partially transparent to solar energy and defines a heated chamber and a fluid return chamber, the fluid return chamber being in fluid communication with the heated chamber and the cold chambers of the wings, and the heated chamber being in fluid communication with the hot chambers of the wings, and an optical element positioned relative to the electric generator segment to direct solar energy to the receiver.

Abstract: A method of concentrating solar energy includes receiving solar energy through a surface of an optically clear shell, guiding the solar energy through a liquid contained in the optically clear shell, folding the solar energy back through the liquid toward a solar receiver, and shifting the solar receiver within the optically clear shell to track the sun, wherein the solar energy collected by the solar receiver is converted into electrical energy.