Abstract: A single-axis solar tracker consisting of a series of A-frame shaped foundation with actuators attached to each leg that are connected at one end to a common rotating assembly supporting multiple solar panels. Concerted action of the actuators causes the common rotating assembly to rotate about an axis of rotation. The system may include a central torque tube supported by the series of A-frame foundations or a frame assembly that is hingedly attached to each A-frame foundation via a torque arm.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and a method of forming a contact stack of the photovoltaic device are disclosed. The photovoltaic device may include a first layer deposited on a semiconductor layer including a compound semiconductor material. The photovoltaic device may also include a dopant layer comprising tin (Sn) deposited on the first layer. The photovoltaic device may further include a conductive layer deposited or provided over the dopant layer to form a contact stack with the first layer and the dopant layer.

Abstract: A composition of matter, in particular a photovoltaic cell, comprising: at least one core semiconductor nanowire on a graphitic substrate, said at least one core nanowire having been grown epitaxially on said substrate wherein said nanowire comprises at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element; a semiconductor shell surrounding said core nanowire, said shell comprising at least one group III-V compound or at least one group II-VI compound or at least one group IV element such that said core nanowire and said shell form a n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor respectively or vice versa; and an outer conducting coating surrounding said shell which forms an electrode contact.

Abstract: A method for passing photovoltaic current between a subcell formed from a single crystal Group ll-VI semiconductor material and a subcell formed from a single crystal Group IV semiconductor material, includes the steps of forming a first subcell by an epitaxial growth process, the first subcell having a first upper surface; forming a tunnel heterojunction between the first subcell and the second subcell, and tunneling carriers formed by light incident on the first and second subcells through the tunnel heterojunction, thereby permitting a photoelectric series current to flow through the first and second subcells.

Abstract: An encapsulant of a photovoltaic module, intended for coating a photovoltaic cell (10), including: a copolymer of ethylene-alkyl acrylate, the melt flow index (MFI) of the copolymer being 1 g/10 min to 40 g/10 min; and a silane making up 0.1% to 0.5% of the weight of the composition; wherein the encapsulant also includes a cross-linking agent making up 0.1% to 0.5% of the weight of the composition and wherein the copolymer makes up at least 99% of the weight of the composition. Also, a use of such an encapsulant in a photovoltaic module as well as to a photovoltaic module including such an encapsulant.

Abstract: The present specification provides a photoactive layer including: an electron donor; and an electron acceptor, in which the electron donor includes: a single molecular material; and a polymer material, a content of the electron donor is higher than a content of the electron acceptor, and in the electron donor, a content of the single molecular material is higher than a content of the polymer material, and an organic solar cell including the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building blocks method for low-cost fabrication of single crystal organometallic perovskite materials with pseudo crystallized hole transporting material layer. This method uses self-assembled molecular monolayers SAM as building blocks. This approach enables creation of defect-free perovskite crystals with desired morphology and crystallinity in a controlled way. Additionally, the crosslinked molecular layers SAM play a role of hole transporting materials HTM and encapsulation against diffusion of metal atoms and gas molecules, thus enhancing the stability of the perovskite materials. This method is cost effective and can be scaled up.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a thermionic emission device and a method for tuning a work function in a thermionic emission device is provided. The method includes illuminating an N type semiconductor material of a first member of a thermionic emission device, wherein a work function of the N type semiconductor material is lowered by the illuminating. The method includes collecting, on one of the first member or a second member of the thermionic emission device, electrons emitted from one of the first member or the second member.

Abstract: A semi-transparent solar panel apparatus for allowing light to pass through solar panels onto crops to maximize solar collection areas includes a plurality of cell columns comprising a plurality of solar cells. Each cell column has a space between the adjacent cell columns to allow light to pass therethrough. A pair of encapsulant sheets is coupled together on either side of the plurality of cell columns to maintain the arrangement of the cell columns. A bottom frame is coupled to the pair of encapsulant sheets. The pair of encapsulant sheets is coupled to a bottom horizontal portion within a bottom vertical portion. A top frame is coupled to the bottom frame with a top vertical portion coupled to the bottom vertical portion of the bottom frame to seal the pair of encapsulant sheets between a top horizontal portion and the bottom horizontal portion.

Abstract: A concentrator photovoltaic module includes: a concentrating portion configured by arranging a plurality of Fresnel lenses that concentrate sunlight; a plurality of power generating elements arranged at positions corresponding respectively to the plurality of Fresnel lenses; a plurality of ball lenses corresponding respectively to the plurality of power generating elements and guide the sunlight concentrated by the plurality of Fresnel lenses to the plurality of power generating elements; and a housing that contains the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements. The housing includes a resin frame body, and a metal bottom plate that is fixed to the frame body, and on the inner surface of which the plurality of ball lenses and the plurality of power generating elements are arranged. The groove portion for reducing thermal expansion of the inner surface side of the bottom plate is on the inner surface of the bottom plate.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate opposite the upper substrate, a solar cell panel positioned between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, the solar cell panel including a plurality of solar cells which are arranged in a matrix form and are connected to one another through a wiring member, a passivation layer configured to package the solar cell panel, a frame configured to surround an outer perimeter of the solar cell panel, a connection terminal configured to connect two adjacent strings in the solar cell panel, and a cover member configured to cover the connection terminal.

Abstract: Wires (22) electrically connecting solar cells (10) include first wires (22a) and second wires (22b). The first wires (22a) are connected to the first-conductivity-type electrodes (12) of a first one of the solar cells (10) and the second-conductivity-type electrodes (13) of a second one of the solar cells 10 that is adjacent to the first one of the solar cells (10). The second wires (22b) are connected to the second-conductivity-type electrodes (13) of the first one of the solar cells (10) and the first-conductivity-type electrodes (12) of the second one of the solar cells (10). The second wires (22b) are electrically separated by holes (21a) extending through both the second wires (22b) and an insulating base member (21).

Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a light-absorbing layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a dot region interposed between the first electrode and the light-absorbing layer, the dot region including dots.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes an element body formed of a thermoelectric conversion material of a silicide-based compound, and electrodes each formed on one surface of the element body and the other surface opposite the one surface. The electrodes are formed of a sintered body of a copper silicide, and the electrodes and the element body are directly joined.

Abstract: A solar generator includes a base, a rotary plate provided to the base such that the rotary plate can rotate with respect to the base, a cover disposed atop the rotary plate, solar panel disposed atop the cover such that the solar panel is angled with respect to a horizontal plane, and a motor provided to the rotary plate such that the motor can engage the base to enable rotation of the rotary plate with respect to the base. A photosensor and a method of rotationally aligning a solar panel with the sun in an azimuth orientation are also provided.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a lower part from a bottom surface of the thermoelectric material to a point of 30% of an average thickness of the thermoelectric material and having an average content of carbon atoms of 40 at% or more in the thermoelectric material, and an upper part corresponding to a remaining 70% of the average thickness of the thermoelectric material and having an average content of carbon atoms of 20 at% or less in the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A transparent electrode with a transparent substrate and a composite layer disposed thereon, wherein the composite layer includes a graphene layer and a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are embedded in the graphene layer and extend through a thickness of the graphene layer, and wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are in direct contact with the transparent substrate and a gap is present between the graphene layer and the transparent substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell including a first layer having a checkered layout of fields having a photovoltaic layer and fields having at least a reflective layer; a second layer arranged above and spaced apart from the first layer, which second layer has a checkered layout of fields having a photovoltaic layer and of openings, with the openings of the second layer registered with the fields having a photovoltaic layer of the first layer; a burning glass layer arranged above and spaced apart from the second layer, with the fields having a photovoltaic layer of both the first and second layer as well as the fields having at least a reflective layer facing the burning glass layer; and a third layer arranged between the first and second layer, preferably arranged to the second layer, which third layer has a checkered layout of fields having a photovoltaic layer and of openings, with the openings of the third layer registered with the openings of the second layer and with the fields having a photovoltaic

Abstract: A solar cell is made of semiconductor material for generating electrical power from solar power and has a first solar unit comprising at least one doped substrate. Accordingly, said first solar unit comprises a first doped substrate; a second doped substrate is provided on said first doped substrate in a shifted manner in order to define a first junction area in between; a third doped substrate is provided under said second doped substrate in a shifted manner in order to define a second junction area in between; a first dielectric region provided between the first doped substrate and the third doped substrate, and at least one of said doped substrates is configured in a manner forming a voltage difference between the first doped substrate and the third doped substrate.

Abstract: A layer structure for a thin-film solar cell and production method are provided. The layer structure for the thin-film solar cell includes a photovoltaic absorber layer doped, at least in a region which borders a surface of the photovoltaic absorber layer, with at least one alkali metal. The layer structure has an oxidic passivating layer on the surface of the photovoltaic absorber layer, which is designed to protect the photovoltaic absorber layer from corrosion.