Abstract: Conductive contacts for solar cells and methods of forming conductive contacts for solar cells are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A conductive contact is disposed on the substrate. The conductive contact includes a layer composed of a first metal species having a plurality of pores. The conductive contact also includes a second metal species disposed in the plurality of pores. Portions of both the first and second metal species are in contact with the substrate.

Abstract: A sealed monolithic electrochemical system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the sealed monolithic electrochemical system includes an electrically insulating substrate; an electrically conducting pattern arranged to support a plurality of blocks of porous structures arranged on the substrate, wherein each porous structure includes a working electrode, an insulating layer and a counter electrode, and wherein an electrolyte is at least partially filled in the blocks of porous structures for forming a plurality of electrochemical cells; and an encapsulation covering the plurality of blocks of porous structures. In at least one embodiment, each block includes at least one porous structure, where the blocks may be individually disconnected and a method individually disconnecting such a system.

Abstract: A solar power unit having the following features: It can rotate on an axle to face the sun The solar collectors are arranged in a stepped shape. It has mirrors that can fold out to increase the area over which sunlight is collected. There is a protective bonnet that can cover the solar collectors during inclement weather. The invention has a semi-cylindrical main body that rests on a stand, supported by an axle on which it can pivot to track the sun. The stepped solar collectors are on the upper half of the main body and are covered by the mirrors when they fold in. A first embodiment has a battery that stores electricity generated by sunlight and an inverter for converting direct current from the battery to alternating current. A second embodiment has parabolic collectors that heat water to create high pressure steam that is used to generate electricity.

Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for the generation of energy using thermophotovoltaic cells are described. Also described are systems and methods for selectively emitting electromagnetic radiation from an emitter for use in thermophotovoltaic energy generation systems. In at least some of the inventive energy generation systems and methods, a voltage applied to the thermophotovoltaic cell (e.g., to enhance the power produced by the cell) can be adjusted to enhance system performance. Certain embodiments of the systems and methods described herein can be used to generate energy relatively efficiently.

Abstract: The photovoltaic cell has a block that includes at least one semiconductor substrate in which is formed at least one photovoltaic junction that is connected to a first electrical contact element of a first pole and to a second electrical contact element of a second pole. The cell includes a first transparent cover that is placed on a first surface of the block and defines with the block of the cell a first recess groove of a first electrically conductive wire element.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include a doped germanium-containing substrate, an emitter contact coupled to the substrate on a first side and a back contact coupled to the substrate on a side opposite the first side. The emitter includes at least one doped layer of an opposite conductivity type as that of the substrate and the back contact includes at least one doped layer of the same conductivity type as that of the substrate. The at least one doped layer of the emitter contact or the at least one doped layer of the back contact is in direct contact with the substrate, and the at least one doped layer of the emitter contact or the back contact includes an n-type material having an electron affinity smaller than that of the substrate, or a p-type material having a hole affinity larger than that of the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-junction photoelectric conversion device that can be manufactured by a simple method is provided. In addition, a photoelectric conversion device whose mechanical strength is increased without complicating a manufacturing process is provided. A photoelectric conversion device includes a first cell having a photoelectric conversion function, a second cell having a photoelectric conversion function, and a structure body including a fibrous body, which firmly attaches and electrically connects the first cell and the second cell to each other. Accordingly, a multi-junction photoelectric conversion device in which semiconductor junctions are connected in series and sufficient electrical connection between p-i-n junctions is ensured can be provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for a photovoltaic device and substrate structure. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and a CdTe absorber layer, the substrate structure including a Zn1-xMgxO window layer and a low conductivity buffer layer. Another embodiment is directed to a process for manufacturing a photovoltaic device including forming a Zn1-xMgxO window layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process and vapor transport deposition process. The process including forming a CdTe absorber layer above the Zn1-xMgxO window layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar cell module which has high design freedom and can be easily manufactured at low cost. A solar cell module (10) includes (i) a light guide plate (1), (ii) a fluorescence-dispersed film (2) in each of which a fluorescent substance is dispersed and which is adhered to respective at least one surface of the light guide plate (1), and (iii) a solar cell element (3) which is provided on another surface of the light guide plate (1) which another surface being perpendicular to the at least one surface. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a light guide plate in which a fluorescent substance is dispersed. Moreover, it is possible to arbitrarily pattern the fluorescence-dispersed film (2) or to stack the fluorescence-dispersed films (2).

Abstract: A back contact solar cell and a method for manufacturing the back contact solar cell are discussed. The back contact solar cell includes a substrate made of crystalline silicon having a first conductivity type, a passivation layer on one side of the substrate, an antireflection layer on the passivation layer, a first electrode on the other side of the substrate, a second electrode on the other side of the substrate and separated from the first electrode, a first semiconductor layer disposed between the first electrode and the substrate and having the first conductivity type, and a second semiconductor layer disposed between the second electrode and the substrate and having a second conductivity type that is opposite to the first conductivity type. The passivation layer includes at least one of amorphous silicon oxide and amorphous silicon carbide.

Abstract: A housing for a solar panel is provided that includes a glazed element and a tray, the tray including a plate, side walls a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a top surface and a lip, the lip configured to seat the glazed element, wherein the tray is formed of a single material, wherein the plate, the side walls, the top and the bottom end cap are collectively configured to form a cavity, and wherein the top end cap includes a top header, the top end cap positioned between the top header and the cavity and including at least one pipe extending outwardly from the top header at both side ends and extending a length and throughout an interior space of the to header, and at least one void extending a length and throughout the interior space of the to header, the void positioned proximate the pipe.

Abstract: A method for activating a local converter for one of a plurality of energy generating devices in an energy generating array is provided. The local converter includes a power stage and a local controller. The method includes comparing a device voltage for the energy generating device to a voltage activation level. The local converter is automatically activated when the device voltage exceeds the voltage activation level.

Abstract: A solar cell element having a transparent substrate body, a NaxAg1-x, layer, a ZnO layer, a transparent conductive layer, and a photoelectric conversion layer including an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer. The transparent substrate body, the NaxAg1-x layer, the ZnO layer, the transparent conductive layer, and the photoelectric conversion layer are stacked in this order, x represents a value of not less than 0.001 and not more than 0.02, the NaxAg1-x layer has a thickness of 2-15.2 nanometers, and the ZnO layer has an arithmetical mean roughness of not less than 20-750 nanometers. The ZnO layer is composed of a plurality of ZnO columnar crystal grain, each ZnO columnar crystal grain has a longitudinal direction along a normal line direction of the transparent substrate body, and each ZnO columnar crystal grain has a R2/R1 ratio of 1.1-1.6.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a rear surface electrode layer a semiconductor layer formed on a surface of rear surface electrode layer a front surface electrode layer formed on a surface of semiconductor layer and a support layer on a surface of rear surface electrode layer at a side opposite the side where semiconductor layer is formed. Semiconductor layer includes at least one p-n junction. A plurality of through holes are provided, which through holes are cavities connecting support layer openings provided on a surface of support layer at a side opposite the side where rear surface electrode layer is formed with semiconductor layer openings provided on a surface of semiconductor layer at a side opposite the side where rear surface electrode layer is formed. Front surface electrode layer is formed in a region where semiconductor layer openings are not provided. A method of manufacturing the solar cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprises a top subcell having a first band gap; a middle subcell comprising a substrate and having a second band gap, wherein the substrate comprises a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and a bottom subcell having a third band gap, wherein the top subcell is grown on the first side of the substrate and the bottom subcell is grown on the second side of the substrate, wherein the first band gap is larger than the second band gap and the second band gap is larger than the third band gap.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell comprising an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a middle second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell; the graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; a third solar subcell adjacent to the interlayer, the third subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell; and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer adjacent to the upper first subcell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device including a single junction solar cell provided by an absorption layer of a type IV semiconductor material having a first conductivity, and an emitter layer of a type III-V semiconductor material having a second conductivity, wherein the type III-V semiconductor material has a thickness that is no greater than 50 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resin wiring sheet wherein generation of wrinkles due to heat treatment can be suppressed. The wiring sheet (1) has wiring (3) formed thereon by laminating a metal foil on the surface of a resin base material (2) and patterning the metal foil into a desired wiring shape. The resin base material (2) is a biaxially stretched sheet, which is stretched in the TD direction and the MD direction of the biaxially extending apparatus. In the wiring (3) formed on the wiring sheet (1), with respect to the components in the two directions that orthogonally intersect each other, the total length of the wiring (3) components in one direction is longer than the total length of the wiring (3) components in the other direction, thus the wiring has anisotropy, and said direction of the components accords with the MD direction of the stretched resin base material (2).

Abstract: A solar panel has a number of rectilinear photovoltaic solar cells. Each solar cell has four edges, a current collector bar having at least two conductively coupled collector bar segments, and a grid of electrodes conductively coupled to the collector bar. A first collector bar segment is substantially parallel to and proximate to a first edge of the solar cell, a second collector bar segment is substantially parallel to and proximate to a second edge of the solar cell, the second edge being orthogonal with respect to the first edge. In some disclosed techniques, the solar panel has a string of solar cells disposed on a surface of the solar panel in a substantially spiral or serpentine manner and no solar cell within the string is electrically connected to another solar cell in the string by any means other than a cell interconnect.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell having multiple stacked layers has a thickness from the top of its top layer to the bottom of its bottom layer of less than one micron. Metal conducting layers are positioned between semiconductor layers with semiconductor layers having higher bandgaps being located above semiconductor layers having lower band gaps. The layers of the photovoltaic cell are arranged and stacked, and the thicknesses and materials for the semiconductor layers and conductive layers are selected to realize desired absorption, transmission, and reflection characteristics. The geometry and thicknesses of the respective layers of the cell allows incident light of various angles to be absorbed by all of the semiconductor layers of the cell.