Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices, such as organic photovoltaics, including a photoactive region, wherein the photoactive region contains an energy-cascading multilayer donor region. The energy-cascading multilayer donor region may drive exciton transfer from an anode to a dissociating interface while reducing exciton quenching, improving overlap with the solar spectrum, and minimizing polaron pair recombination, resulting in improved device performance.

Abstract: A system for controlling airflow through a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack. The system also includes a valve having a valve position that affects a pressure of the gas and a valve area corresponding to a cross-sectional area of the valve through which the gas may flow. The system also includes a memory designed to store a map or function that correlates the valve area to the valve position. The system also includes an ECU to determine or receive a desired mass flow rate of the gas through the valve, and calculate a desired valve area to achieve the desired mass flow rate. The ECU is also designed to compare the desired valve area to the map or function to determine a desired valve position that provides the desired valve area, and to control the valve to have the desired valve position.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus (1000) is provided including a front sheet (250) having a first portion (2501) and a second portion (2502). The photovoltaic apparatus further includes a back sheet (210) having a first portion (2101), a second portion (2102), and a first folded portion (2103), where the second portion of the front sheet is disposed between the second portion of the back sheet and the first folded portion of the back sheet. The photovoltaic apparatus further includes one or more photovoltaic devices (100) disposed between the first portion of the front sheet and the first portion of the back sheet, where each of the one or more photovoltaic devices includes an array of photovoltaic cells (105).

Abstract: A solar cell structure includes P-type and N-type doped regions. A dielectric spacer is formed on a surface of the solar cell structure. A metal layer is formed on the dielectric spacer and on the surface of the solar cell structure that is exposed by the dielectric spacer. A metal foil is placed on the metal layer. A laser beam is used to weld the metal foil to the metal layer. A laser beam is also used to pattern the metal foil. The laser beam ablates portions of the metal foil and the metal layer that are over the dielectric spacer. The laser ablation of the metal foil cuts the metal foil into separate P-type and N-type metal fingers.

Abstract: In snowy climates, photovoltaic panels suffer from significant losses due to snow accumulation. The present invention is a device that can be attached to a photovoltaic panel in order to promote snow sliding, increasing the power output of the panel as a result.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a solder strip applied to a shingled solar cell module, including a flat portion, and an upper cell slice connecting portion and a lower cell slice connecting portion located at two sides of the flat portion; a plurality of fine grid lines are arranged in parallel on front/back surfaces of lower/upper cell slices; cutting directions of the lower cell slice and the upper cell slice are parallel to the fine grid lines; the solder strip is arranged perpendicular to the fine grid lines or parallel to busbars; and the upper cell slice partially overlaps with the lower cell slice, the flat portion is soldered to the fine grid lines/busbars on the front surface of the lower cell slice and the fine grid lines/busbars on the back surface of the upper cell slice to form an overlapped region, the upper cell slice connecting portion is soldered to the fine grid lines/busbars on the back surface of the upper cell slice, and the lower cell slice connecting portion is soldered to the fine grid lines

Abstract: An example device for mounting for a solar array may include a solar panel carrier configured to receive a solar array to form a panel assembly; a pivot configured to pivotably secure the solar panel carrier with respect to a support structure; and/or a restoring moment element operatively connected to the solar panel carrier and configured to exert a restoring moment on the solar panel carrier opposite in direction and approximately equal in magnitude to a gravitational moment of the panel assembly when the solar panel carrier is tilted to various angular positions. When the solar panel carrier is at a nominal angular position, a center of gravity of the panel assembly may be above and substantially vertically aligned with the pivot axis.

Abstract: A laminated thermoelectric conversion element is a laminated thermoelectric conversion element that has: a first end surface and a second end surface opposed to each other; a heat absorption surface; and a heat release surface, where p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are electrically connected and at the same time, laminated alternately in a meander form with insulating layers partially interposed there between, in an intermediate part, the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are laminated which have a p-type basic thickness, whereas the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are laminated which have an n-type basic thickness, and the thickness of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layer or n-type thermoelectric conversion material layer outside the insulating layer located closest to any of the first end surface and second end surface is larger as compared with the basic thickness of the thermoelectric conve

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: To provide a thermoelectric conversion material having an enhanced thermoelectromotive force and a production method thereof. A thermoelectric conversion material including a matrix and a barrier material, wherein the matrix contains Mg2Si1-xSnx (x is from 0.50 to 0.80) and an n-type dopant and the barrier material contains Mg2Si1-ySny (y is from 0 to 0.30), and a production method thereof. A thermoelectric conversion material and a production method thereof, in which the movement of minority carrier is blocked by a barrier material and the thermoelectromotive force is thereby enhanced, can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric micro-supercapacitor integrated device comprising: a thermoelectric power generation module comprising a thermoelectric unit body including a thermoelectric channel interposed between two different heat sources and disposed on a substrate, the thermoelectric channel being composed of an n-type or p-type semiconductor; and a micro-supercapacitor module configured to be operated in cooperation with the thermoelectric power generation module and including a pair of collector electrodes between which an electric potential difference is generated through the thermoelectric channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a portable photovoltaic assembly is disclosed. In particular, in one example embodiment, the portable photovoltaic assembly described herein comprises: a solar panel platform; a plurality of solar panel holders affixed to a front of the solar panel platform and configured to hold one or more solar panels; a back support extending from a back of the solar panel platform at an angle between the solar panel platform and the back support; and one or more link arms removably connected between the solar panel platform and the back support to hold the angle between the solar panel platform and the back support. Other embodiments are further described herein that provide for portability and adjustability in an easy-to-use manner.

Abstract: This photovoltaic module includes: a power generating element configured to receive light to generate power; and a housing which is closed, the housing having: a concentrating portion provided with a lens configured to concentrate sunlight; a bottom portion in which the power generating element is disposed; and a side wall serving as an outer frame for the bottom portion and supporting the concentrating portion. The side wall is formed from a resin and has at least one vent hole.

Abstract: A visibly transparent luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) is disclosed. The LSC includes a transparent substrate having at least one edge surface. A dye layer is coupled to the substrate, the dye layer having a peak absorption wavelength outside the visible band, the dye layer being configured to re-emit light at a peak emission wavelength outside the visible band, at least a portion of the re-emitted light being waveguided to the edge surface of the substrate. A photovoltaic device is coupled to the edge surface of the transparent substrate, the photovoltaic device being configured to absorb light at the peak emission wavelength and generate electrical energy.

Abstract: An insulation paste for forming a protective layer of a solar cell device includes: a siloxane resin; an organic solvent; and multiple fillers each having a surface covered with an organic coating containing at least one material different from a material of the siloxane resin. A method for producing the insulation paste includes: preparing the multiple fillers; and mixing together a precursor of the siloxane resin, water, a catalyst, an organic solvent, and the multiple fillers. A method for manufacturing a solar cell device includes: applying the insulation paste to the passivation layer; and drying the insulation paste to form the protective layer on the passivation layer. A solar cell device includes: the passivation layer located on a semiconductor region; and the protective layer located on the passivation layer and including a siloxane resin and dimethylpolysiloxane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic device (1), comprising a photovoltaic acceptor material (7) and a photovoltaic donor material (10), in which the photovoltaic device (1) comprises at least two carrier layers (2, 3), of which one carrier layer (2) has n-doped electron donors (6) and the other carrier layer has acceptor material (7) as p-doped or undoped electron acceptors, wherein the carrier layers (2, 3) are arranged with respect to one another such that they touch one another at least in sections, and the carrier layers (2, 3) are wetted or coated in filmlike fashion with a photovoltaic donor material (10). The carrier layers (2, 3), which are formed in particular from fibres (6, 7) composed of silicon carbide SiC, enable textile solar cells. Methods for producing the fibres (6, 7) and for producing the photovoltaic device (1) and textile structures formed therefrom are furthermore described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an electrode assembly which is capable of improving an alignment of a secondary battery, realizing a high-capacity battery, and simplifying manufacturing processes of the secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing the same. The electrode assembly includes an electrode stack in which a plurality of first electrodes spaced apart from each other are disposed between two separators and second electrodes attached to both outer surfaces of the electrode stack at alternate positions of a plurality of positions on which the first electrodes are disposed, wherein, in the electrode stack, an area between the first electrode and the adjacent first electrode is folded.

Abstract: The solar cell includes an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer on a first principal surface of a crystalline silicon substrate. The n-type semiconductor layer is provided so as to extend over a part on a p-type semiconductor layer-formed region provided with the p-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer non-formed-region where the p-type semiconductor layer is not provided. In a region where the n-type semiconductor layer is provided on the p-type semiconductor layer, a protecting layer is between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The protecting layer includes: an underlying protecting layer that is in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer; and an insulating layer that is on the underlying protecting layer. The underlying protecting layer includes an intrinsic silicon-based layer or an n-type silicon-based layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: Flexible air-breathing microscale fuel cells are produced using ion exchange polymer membranes without silicon substrates or other rigid components. The microscale fuel cells provide long-life energy supply sources in portable electronics due to reduced volume, high energy density, and low cost. More particularly, the microscale fuel cell has a direct hydrogen flow-through porous anode electrode with a pair of air-breathing cathodes.