Abstract: The application discloses a back-well cell, for example, a solar cell which comprises a first semiconductor material of one conductivity type with one face having the same conductivity type but more heavily doped to form a field region arranged to receive the radiant energy to be converted to electrical energy, and a layer of a second semiconductor material, preferably highly doped, of opposite conductivity type on the first semiconductor material adjacent the first semiconductor material at an interface remote from the heavily doped field region. Instead of the opposite conductivity layer, one may employ a metallic layer to form a Schottky diode. If the metallic Schottky diode layer is used, no additional back contact is needed. A contact such as a gridded contact, pervious to the radiant energy may be applied to the heavily doped field region of the more heavily doped, same conductivity material for its contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of electolyzing aqueous solutions of alkali metal chlorides, such as sodium chloride brine, where an electrical current is passed from an anode to the cathode, evolving chlorine at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode. According to the disclosed method the cathode has a ferrous substrate with an electroplated coating thereon containing a transition metal. Also disclosed is a method of electroplating the transition metal onto the ferrous cathode substrate from an electroless plating solution.

Abstract: A luminescent photovoltaic array which employs a luminescent member carrying photovoltaic means on at least one of its sides, and conduit means in heat exchange contact with at least one side of said luminescent member, said conduit means being adapted to have a cooling fluid pass therethrough for cooling said luminescent member.

Abstract: A method of treating carbon fibers in which carbon fibers are supplied into a solution of an electrolyte containing a vinyl monomer, and the carbon fibers are caused to act as the cathode to produce electrolytic reaction in said solution so that the surfaces of the carbon fibers are covered with a polymerization product whereby the ability of the carbon fibers to bundle themselves can be elevated and the adhesiveness between the carbon fibers and resin to be reinforced upon producing carbon fiber composite materials can be improved.

Abstract: Aluminum objects which are designed to be submersed, submerged, or buried e rendered antifouling by anodizing the surface of the aluminum and impregnating therein, for example, an organometallic compound containing tin. Long term antifouling is achieved due to the low rate of leaching of the organotin compound, while adverse environmental effects are minimized.

Abstract: A test piece of metal with a given area S is disposed with a reference electrode in test solution. The open circuit potential E.sub.cor, i.e. the corrosion potential, of the test piece is measured as the reference electrode potential. A given amount of charges q from a capacitor is instantaneously fed through the reference electrode to the electrical double layer of the test piece. When that a given amount of charge q is stored in the electrical double layer, the absolute value of polarization potential of the test piece sharply increases. Then, the absolute value of the polarization potential gradually decreases due to the corrosion reaction. The polarization potential variation is recorded referred to the reference electrode as a polarization potential (.eta..sub.t) - time (t) curve by a potential recorder with an extremely high input impedance. The measurement result of the polarization potential (.eta..sub.t) - time (t) curve may be theoretically expressed by the equation log .eta..sub.t = -t/(C.sub.D R.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a solar-cell construction wherein plural spaced elongate unit cells of an array are formed from a parallel-grooved single wafer of substrate material of a first conductivity type, with adjacent sidewalls of adjacent units at each inter-unit groove formation. In the transverse succession of such groove formations, the sidewalls of every other groove are formed with regions of a second conductivity type, so that at or near the radiation-exposure surface of each unit there is but one junction between first and second conductivity types. In one general form, all grooves go all the way between upper and lower wafer surfaces, thus defining discrete single-cell units; in another general form, every other groove ends close to but short of the upper surface, thus defining discrete twin-cell units. The units are series-connected by making ohmic connection between the second conductivity-type region of one unit and a first conductivity-type region of an adjacent unit.

Abstract: A platinum film resistor device and method for making the same. A layer of quartz, deposited upon an insulative substrate preferably silicon, is sputter etched at high power levels to produce etch pits in the surface thereof. A layer of platinum is then deposited over the quartz layer by first sputtering platinum at high power for a relatively short period of time and then completing the layer by continuing to sputter deposit platinum at a lower power. A second layer of quartz is deposited over the layer of platinum and the second layer of quartz masked and chemically etched away in the regions where portions of the platinum layer are to be removed. The exposed platinum and a portion of the second quartz layer are then sputter etched away leaving the platinum in a predetermined configuration. The platinum is then annealed, the second quartz layer removed above the lead bonding pads, and external leads attached. The device is particularly useful in temperature measuring application.

Abstract: A zinc chloride rechargeable cell or battery comprising a container, at least one cathode element therein comprising a substrate of a metal or mixture of metals selected from Groups IVA and VA of the Periodic Table according to Mendeleef having applied thereto with sufficient pressure to break the metal oxide film thereon and a layer of porous carbon in which chlorine gas is occluded to form a cathode element and which acts as a current collector at least one zinc bearing electrode within said container and a substantially nitrogen free zinc chloride electrolyte on said casing having a pH value of not less than 1.0.

Abstract: A new and improved swimming pool chlorinator which facilitates the provision of a higher strength hypochlorite solution over a wide concentration range than can be obtained from prior swimming pool chlorinators. The new and improved chlorinator utilizes a membrane type cell having opposed catholyte and anolyte chambers including a cathode and an anode member, respectively, disposed in a close spaced relationship to each other and separated by a substantially hydraulically impermable cation exchange membrane. The products of electrolysis in the catholyte and anolyte chambers are combined exteriorally of the cell to obtain sodium hypochlorite which may then be conveyed to the swimming pool water. Means are provided to selectively vary the electrical current in the cell to control the amount of sodium hydrochlorite ultimately produced.

Abstract: A photochemical energy storage system includes at least one electrolytic solution containing a reduction-oxidation couple, one species of which can be stored in a second phase. The device includes a charging system and an energy delivery system. The charging system includes an n-or p-type photosensitive electrode at which, under illumination, an oxidation or reduction reaction occurs. In the charging cycle, one species is oxidized while the other is reduced, and one of these products is stored in a phase other than the phase in which the reaction occurs. The energy delivery system transfers electrons to or from the high energy product on demand for delivery through an electrical load to an electrode at which the original reactants can be reconstituted.

Abstract: A method of etching comprises etching a cadmium-mercury-telluride semiconductor layer by means of an ion beam.

Abstract: A method of continuously electroplating alloys onto strip and wire. The strip is moved in an essentially mirror symmetrical path through the plating bath with the anode generally bisected by the mirror plane. The distance between anode and strip is smaller within the mirror plane, and larger at strip positions removed from the mirror plane, resulting in essentially uniform current density over the length of the strip immersed in the plating bath and in a homogeneous composition of the plated surface layer.

Abstract: Coloring by electrolysis of aluminum or aluminum alloys comprising electrolyzing anodized aluminum or aluminum alloys without sealing the anodized surface thereof in an electrolytic bath containing an aliphatic sulfonic acid and a metal salt of such sulfonic acid.

Abstract: A reactive sputtering process is described for producing a thin film of sputtered material on a tubular substrate which may, for example, be a solar collector tube. Uniformity of the composition of the sputtered layer at all points at the same depth in the film is achieved by preventing the movement of reactive gases through which the sputtering has already taken place, from one part of the zone of sputtering to another. In one way of achieving this result the reactive gas is swept from the zone of sputtering by entraining it in a gas stream flowing across the sputtering path. In an alternative way of achieving this result the rate of flow of reactive gas is finely controlled so that it is entirely consumed in one discrete area of sputtering so that there are no components of the reactive gas remaining which are free to move to other parts of the zone of sputtering and thereby change the atmospheric conditions in it.

Abstract: The specification describes a gallium aluminum arsenide-gallium arsenide-germanium solar cell and fabrication process therefor wherein the deposition of a layer of gallium aluminum arsenide establishes a first PN junction in the GaAs of one bandgap energy on one side of a gallium arsenide substrate, and the deposition of a layer of germanium establishes a second PN junction in Ge of a different bandgap energy on the other side of the GaAs substrate. The two PN junctions are responsive respectively to different wavelength ranges of solar energy to thus enhance the power output capability of a single wafer (substrate) solar cell. Utilization of the Group IV element germanium, as contrasted to compound semiconductors, simplifies the process control requirements relative to known prior art compound semiconductor processes, and germanium also provides a good crystal lattice match with gallium arsenide and thereby maximizes process yields.

Abstract: An improved solar cell designed for optimum efficiency is comprised of a plurality of series connected unit solar cells formed from a common substrate of semiconductor material. Each unit solar cell has spaced elongate sidewalls, and a "dead space" area between adjoining sidewalls of adjacent units is made substantially smaller than an active, light receiving area, extending between the opposite sidewalls of each individual unit. In addition, the width of the active area is concisely limited to ensure that radiation incident on the active area is incident at a point which is spaced from the p-n junction of each unit by no more than a predetermined optimum distance. Reducing the "dead space" area while concisely limiting the width of the active area provides improved solar cell performance without requiring focusing lenses.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device for the conversion of light (preferably in the visible spectrum) to electrical current consists of at least two electrodes (one of which must be substantially transparent to the light), each electrode being made of different materials and in which one electrode comprises an element that has a work function (generally expressed in electron volts) greater than that of aluminum (e.g. gold or silver) and the other electrode comprises an element that has a work function equal to or less than that of aluminum (e.g., aluminum or magnesium). Sandwiched between and in contact with the electrodes is a photoresponsive organic layer comprising at least one organic compound which, in general, has the capacity to sensitize or de-sensitize silver halides, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, selenium and polyvinyl carbazole (examples of the organic compounds are the cyanine dyes, especially the merocyanine dyes).

Abstract: Liquid-semiconductor photocells using chalcogenide semiconductors have been advanced recently to the point where they compete favorably with silicon devices for solar power conversion. However, in common with silicon devices, the semiconductor needs to be a single crystal. This fact makes solar power impractically expensive. According to this invention, the chalcogenide semiconductor is made by anodizing cadmium or bismuth in a sulfide, selenide or telluride electrolyte. The anodized element, when operated photovoltaically in an electrolyte similar to the anodizing solution, produces useful power conversion and is relatively inexpensive.

Abstract: Silver is recovered from used film plates by passing them into a solution into which their silver material is dissolved and by electroplating the dissolved silver out of the solution. Electrical circuits are provided to increase the magnitude of a continuous plating current in proportion to the rate of film and silver input and to decrease the current gradually to coincide with the decrease in silver concentration as plating continues.