Abstract: Thermoelectric devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric device may include a glass wafer defined by conductive vias, a second wafer, and a plurality of metal film disposed between the glass wafer and the second wafer and against solid, conductive, integral, end surfaces of the conductive vias. A nanogap may be disposed between the metal film and the second wafer. The nanogap may have been created by applying a voltage extending between the conductive vias and the second wafer. Methods of forming the devices, along with methods of using the devices to transform heat energy to electricity, and for refrigeration, are also provided.

Abstract: A conductive paste including a conductive powder, a metallic glass, and an organic vehicle, wherein the metallic glass has a resistivity that is decreased when the metallic glass is heat treated at a temperature that is higher than a glass transition temperature of the metallic glass.

Abstract: An organic solar cell including a cathode and an anode, a photoactive layer disposed between the cathode and the anode, and a buffer layer between the photoactive layer and the cathode, wherein the cathode includes a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 Zn(1-x)MxO(1-y)Wy,??[Chemical Formula 1] and the buffer layer includes ZnO, and wherein in Chemical Formula 1, M is aluminum, gallium, indium, silicon, germanium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, or a combination thereof, W is fluorine, bromine, or a combination thereof, and x and y are each independently greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.1, provided that x and y are not simultaneously 0.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprises at least one string of back contact solar cells and a porous non-conductive layer behind the cells including thereon flexible conductive pathways electrically interconnecting the solar cells. There is a back sheet and an encapsulant between the back sheet and the porous non-conductive layer flowable through the porous non-conductive layer and bonding the back sheet to the solar cells.

Abstract: The invention describes a novel thermoelectric composite material containing electrically conductive polymeric fibrils in a polymer matrix with a high thermoelectric coefficient. The invention also includes a thermoelectric device using the composite. The invention also includes a thermoelectric device containing a thermoelectric layers and a thermoelectric device in which a thermal barrier isolates a thermoelectric layer from a structurally supporting substrate. The thermoelectric devices can be used to generate electricity or to control temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a luminescent optical device (10) having an optical waveguide (200). The luminescent optical device (10) further has a photo-luminescent structure (100) on or inside the optical waveguide (200). The photo-luminescent structure (100) comprises a plurality of photo-luminescent domains (110) containing photo-luminescent material (120). The photo-luminescent material (120) is capable of emitting emission light upon excitation by excitation light. The photo-luminescent domains (110) are arranged to emit, upon excitation by excitation light, at least part of the emission light into the optical waveguide layer (200). The luminescent optical device (10) further may comprise a lens structure (300) on the optical waveguide (200).

Abstract: A method of readily forming a dye-sensitized solar cell having a porous layer of increased thickness. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a translucent substrate, and a plurality of collecting electrode traces formed on the translucent substrate. The solar cell also includes a trench that is trapezoidal in cross-section and is formed on the translucent substrate between the collecting electrode traces. The solar cell also includes a porous layer upon which a sensitizing dye is adsorbed. The porous layer covers the translucent substrate within the trench and the collecting electrode traces.

Abstract: Multijunction solar cells having at least four subcells are disclosed, in which at least one of the subcells comprises a base layer formed of an alloy of one or more elements from group III on the periodic table, nitrogen, arsenic, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi, and each of the subcells is substantially lattice matched. Methods of manufacturing solar cells and photovoltaic systems comprising at least one of the multijunction solar cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: Implementations and techniques for doped diamond solar cells are generally disclosed.

Abstract: A device containing a solar cell chip that may include a hermetically sealed chamber containing optical matching fluid and a threaded pedestal mounting to allow for replacement of solar cell units and that are easily mountable to a master heat sink.

Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to generate electric power from heat. Embodiments employ one or more direct thermal electric converters that have at least a first recombination material having a first recombination rate, a second recombination material adjacent to the first recombination material and having a second recombination rate, wherein the second recombination rate is different from the first recombination rate, and a third recombination material adjacent to the second recombination material and having a third recombination rate substantially the same as the first recombination rate. Application of heat generates at least first charge carriers that migrate between the first recombination material and the second recombination material, and generates at least second charge carriers that migrate between the third recombination material and the second recombination material. The migration of the first charge carriers and the migration of the second charge carriers generates an electrical current.

Abstract: A junction cover for a photovoltaic (PV) panel module system that includes a PV panel mounting structure, a rail, a PV module with a junction box and wiring extending between the rail and the junction box. The junction cover encloses the wiring and includes a base section, a nose section and a pair of feet. The base section includes a plate with first and second side walls extending downwardly therefrom to first and second edges to define an interior with an interior surface. The nose section extends from the base section to an open end and has a top wall, two sides formed by the side walls of the base section and an open side. The feet are located on either side of the open end of the nose section and extend therefrom. The feet engage the rail to secure the junction cover in place to enclose the junction box and wiring.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprising an array of elongate reflector elements mounted substantially parallel to one another and transversely spaced in series, at least one of the reflector elements having an elongate concave reflective surface to reflect incident solar radiation towards a forward adjacent reflector element in the array. The at least one reflector element includes a photovoltaic receptor mounted on the reflector element by a mounting arrangement to receive reflected solar radiation from a rearward adjacent reflector element. The reflector element also includes a heat sink in heat transfer relationship with the photovoltaic receptor, thermally isolating the photovoltaic receptor, at least partially, from the reflector element.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for improved anti-reflective texture. In some embodiments, the absorber layer for use with this anti-reflective layer is a group IB-IIIA-VIA absorber layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a solar energy system. A flexible transparent body includes a top surface, a bottom surface and two edges, wherein the top surface is a light receiving surface for receiving light with a first wave-length. A plurality of solar cells is disposed on at least one of the edges of the flexible transparent body, wherein the solar cells can covert light having a second wave-length into electrical energy. A wavelength converting layer is provided for converting light with the first wave-length to light with the second wave-length.

Abstract: A two-axis tracking solar cooking system includes a sunlight concentrator, a two-axis solar tracker, sunlight reflectors, an enclosure, an oven or a stove, and other components. The 90-degree offset parabolic reflector has very long focal length so that all concentrated sunlight will enter the oven through a small window at the focal point of the 90-degree offset parabolic reflector. The elevation rotation axis goes through the focal point so that the oven will remain at the same horizontal level all the time. The concentrated sunlight makes it easy to achieve needed cooking temperature. The two-axis tracking design eliminates the need of frequent adjustment. The 90-degree offset design permits having the oven under shade, so that people do not have to expose themselves to sunlight to do solar cooking. The enclosure significantly reduces the risk of burns and fires. It also makes it very easy to control the cooking process.

Abstract: A tracking system configured to orient light concentrators to face a light source. The system includes a movable support structure for providing global alignment of the light concentrators with the light source. The system also includes a light concentrator (LC) module that is coupled to the support structure and has an array of light concentrators that are in fixed positions with respect to each other. The system also includes a secondary alignment mechanism having a module joint that movably couples the LC module to the support structure and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to selectively move the LC module about two axes relative to a pivot point of the module joint thereby orienting the array of light concentrators.

Abstract: A method of producing a photovoltaic device includes providing a stretchable substrate for the photovoltaic device; and stretching the substrate to produce a stretched substrate. The method further includes depositing a structure comprising hydrogenated amorphous silicon onto the stretched substrate; and subjecting the deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon structure and the stretched substrate to a compressive force to form a compressively strained photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus includes an absorber including a first quantum dot layer having a first plurality of quantum dots of a first quantum dot material in a first matrix material, and an up-converter layer positioned adjacent to the absorber layer, the up-converter layer including a second quantum dot layer having a second plurality of quantum dots of a second quantum dot material and a second matrix material.

Abstract: Photon absorption, and thus current generation, is hindered in conventional thin-film solar cell designs, including quantum well structures, by the limited path length of incident light passing vertically through the device. Optical scattering into lateral waveguide structures provides a physical mechanism to increase photocurrent generation through in-plane light trapping. However, the insertion of wells of high refractive index material with lower energy gap into the device structure often results in lower voltage operation, and hence lower photovoltaic power conversion efficiency. The voltage output of an InGaAs quantum well waveguide photovoltaic device can be increased by employing a III-V material structure with an extended wide band gap emitter heterojunction.