Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes: a p-type diffusion layer (11) and a n-type diffusion layer (12) on a back face of a semiconductor substrate (1); electrodes (4 to 6); and a wiring board (8). The electrodes (4, 6) are disposed on the p-type diffusion layer (11), and the electrodes (5) are disposed on the n-type diffusion layer (12). The wiring board (8) has wires (82) connected to the electrodes (4, 6) by conductive adhesive layers (7) and wires (83) connected to the electrodes (5) by the conductive adhesive layers (7). The electrodes (6) are disposed, on both ends of the n-type diffusion layer (12) with respect to the x-axis direction, between an end region of the n-type diffusion layer (12) and an edge of the semiconductor substrate (1).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multijunction solar cell having an upper first solar subcell composed of a semiconductor material having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said first solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap and being lattice matched with the upper first solar subcell; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a third band gap smaller than the second band gap and being lattice matched with the second solar subcell; a graded interlayer adjacent to the third solar subcell; and a fourth solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer and composed of a semiconductor material having a fourth band gap smaller than the third band gap and being lattice mismatched with respect to the third solar subcell; wherein the fourth subcell has a direct bandgap of greater than 0.75 eV.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed. The solar cell includes a first conductive region positioned at a front surface of a semiconductor substrate and containing impurities of a first conductivity type or a second conductivity type, a second conductive region positioned at a back surface of the semiconductor substrate and containing impurities of a conductivity type opposite a conductivity type of impurities of the first conductive region, a first electrode positioned on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate and connected to the first conductive region, and a second electrode positioned on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate and connected to the second conductive region. Each of the first and second electrodes includes metal particles and a glass frit.

Abstract: A cooling structure for a battery is provided. The cooling structure includes a plurality of stacked battery cells and tabs are formed on one side or both sides of electrode of each of the battery cells. Additionally, a cooling passage is configured to accommodate the tabs in an inner space thereof and the tabs operate as cooling fins in the cooling passage.

Abstract: A solar cell and a solar cell module are disclosed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells each including a semiconductor substrate and first and second electrodes on the semiconductor substrate, the first and second electrodes being alternately positioned in a first direction and extended in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a first conductive line extended in the first direction to intersect the first and second electrodes, connected to the first electrode by a first conductive layer, and insulated from the second electrode by an insulating layer, and a second conductive line positioned in parallel with the first conductive line, connected to the second electrode by the first conductive layer, and insulated from the first electrode by the insulating layer.

Abstract: The disclosed secondary battery is capable of preventing a short-circuit pressure at which the safety vent is ruptured from being reduced due to deformation of the safety vent during assembly of the battery. The secondary battery of the present invention includes a can member accommodating an electrode assembly and a top cap assembly covering an opening of the can member. A safety vent is provided in the top cap assembly to discharge a gas when an inner pressure of the can member increases, wherein the safety vent includes a main body and a bending unit, in which an outer edge of the main body is bent, and wherein a buffering space is defined between the bending unit and the main body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrode material for a battery electrode, in particular for a lithium-ion battery, wherein said electrode material comprises nanostructured silicon carbide, comprising the steps of: a) providing a mixture including a silicon source, a carbon source and a dopant, wherein at least the silicon source and the carbon source are present in common in particles of a solid granulate; b) treating the mixture provided in step a) at a temperature in the range from ?1400° C. to ?2000° C., in particular in a range from ?1650° C. to ?1850° C., wherein step b) is carried out in a reactor that has a depositing surface the temperature of which relative to at least one other inner reactor surface is reduced. In summary, a method described above enables to combine a simple and cost-efficient production with a high cycle stability.

Abstract: An interconnecting member of a solar cell panel for connecting a plurality of solar cells, can include a core layer and a solder layer formed on a surface of the core layer, in which the core layer includes a protruding portion having a peak portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the core layer, and a reflection surface having an inclined surface or a rounded portion disposed at opposite sides of the peak portion, and a width of the protruding portion increases from the peak portion towards a center of the core layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor including an elongated member including at least a portion that is electrically conductive. The elongated member includes a sensing layer adapted to react with a material desired to be sensed. An insulating layer surrounds the elongated member. The insulating layer defines at least one access opening for allowing the material desired to be sensed to enter an interior region defined between the elongated member and the insulating layer. The insulating layer has an inner transverse cross-sectional profile that is different from an outer transverse cross-sectional profile of the elongated member. The difference in transverse cross-sectional profiles between the elongated member and the insulating layer provides channels at the interior region defined between the insulating layer and the elongated member. The channels extend generally along the length of the elongated member and are sized to allow the material desired to be sensed to move along the length of the sensor.

Abstract: Described methods and systems provide in-situ leakage current testing of battery cells in battery packs even while these packs operate. Specifically, an external electrical current is discontinued through a tested battery cell using a node controller, to which the tested battery cell is independently connected. Changes in the open circuit voltage (OCV) are then detected by the node controller for a set period time. Any voltage change, associated with taking the tested cell offline, is compensated by one or more other cells in the battery pack. The overall pack current and voltage remains substantially unchanged (based on the application demands), while the in-situ leakage current testing is initiated, performed, and/or completed. The OCV changes are then used to determine the leakage current of the tested cell and, in some examples, to determine the state of health of this cell and/or adjust the operating parameters of this cell.

Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a battery assembly for an electrified vehicle and a corresponding method. An exemplary battery assembly includes a battery cell including a terminal, a busbar, and at least one first weld bead securing the busbar to the terminal. The at least one first weld bead is substantially Z-shaped.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion element which can prevent the contact resistance between a non-crystalline semiconductor layer containing impurities and an electrode formed on the non-crystalline semiconductor layer from increasing, and can improve the element characteristics. A photoelectric conversion element (10) includes a semiconductor substrate (12), a first semiconductor layer (20n), a second semiconductor layer (20p), a first electrode (22n), and a second electrode (22p). The first semiconductor layer (20n) has a first conductive type. The second semiconductor layer (20p) has a second conductive type opposite to the first conductive type. The first electrode (22n) is formed on the first semiconductor layer (20n). The second electrode (22p) is formed on the second semiconductor layer (20p). At least one electrode of the first electrode (22n) and the second electrode (22p) includes a plurality of metal crystal grains.

Abstract: A method for constructing a solar rectenna array by growing carbon nanotube antennas between lines of metal, and subsequently applying a bias voltage on the carbon nanotube antennas to convert the diodes on the tips of the carbon nanotube antennas from metal oxide carbon diodes to geometric diodes. Techniques for preserving the converted diodes by adding additional oxide are also described.

Abstract: Various arrangements of pressurized battery modules are detailed herein. Such a pressurized battery module may include a sealed battery module housing. The pressurized battery module may include multiple pouch cells. Each pouch cell may be located within the sealed battery module housing. The pressurized battery module may further include an insulative oil that is pressurized within the sealed housing. This insulative oil may exert pressure on an external surface of each pouch cell within the pressurized battery module.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanopore that includes forming a pore geometry hard mask on a semiconductor substrate; and oxidizing the semiconductor substrate to form an oxide layer on exposed surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. An apex portion of the oxide layer extends beneath an edge of the pore geometry hard mask. The pore geometry hard mask is removed, and the semiconductor substrate is etched with an etch that is selective to the oxide layer to provide the nanopore. The opening of the nanopore has a diameter defined by the apex portion of the oxide layer.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery that has a top surface surrounded by a circumferential edge; and a removable tab attached to the top surface. The removable tab includes a first tab end and an oppositely disposed second tab end; a gripping region disposed adjacent to the first tab end; and a battery cell attachment region disposed adjacent to the second tab end and attached to the top surface of the battery. The battery cell attachment region has first and second oppositely disposed sidewalls, wherein at least one of the first and second sidewalls is curved inwardly away from the circumferential edge of the battery such that a portion of the top surface of the battery is exposed between the sidewall and the circumferential edge of the battery.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an apparatus for a nano-scale energy converter and an electric power generator. The apparatus includes two electrodes separated by a distance. The first electrode is manufactured to have a first work function value and the second electrode is manufactured to have a second work function value, with the first and second work function values being different. A cavity is formed by the distance between the first and second electrodes, and a nanofluid is disposed in the cavity. The nanofluid includes nanoparticles suspended in a dielectric medium. The nanoparticles have a third work function value that is greater than the first and second work function values. The relationship of the work function values of the nanoparticles to the work function values of the electrodes optimizes the transfer of electrons to the nanoparticles through Brownian motion and electron hopping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) for storing natural gas as fuel, in particular for a motor vehicle or utility vehicle, wherein the system (10) has at least one storage tank (11) for the fuel. It is provided according to the invention that the storage tank (11) is assigned at least one fuel cell (12), wherein natural gas that has changed into the gaseous state can be fed from the storage tank (11) to the fuel cell (12) in order to be at least partially converted into electrical energy, wherein the storage tank (11) and the fuel cell (12) interact by way of a control unit (13). In this case, the fuel cell (12) is in the form of a solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes (1) applying a first voltage and a first current to an electroactive device that includes a nanovoided electroactive polymer, (2) measuring a second voltage and a second current associated with the electroactive device, (3) determining at least one of a position or a force output associated with the electroactive device, the position or the force based on the second voltage and the second current, and (4) applying a third voltage and a third current to the electroactive device based on the at least one of the position or the force output. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.