Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system including flexible integration of spectral splitting optical filtration and thermal management utilities is described. An optical filtration (OF) channel is provided above a PV panel of the hybrid PVT system, wherein an OF fluid in the OF channel transmits a first light that is within a predefined spectral range and absorbs a second light that is outside the predefined spectral range. A cooling fluid (CF) channel is provided below the PV panel, wherein the CF channel contains a cooling fluid. A phase change material (PCM) layer is provided between the PV panel and the CF channel, wherein at least one of the OF fluid in the OF channel, the cooling fluid in the CF channel, or the PCM layer contains nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for melting snow from a surface of a power source. The power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) module.

Abstract: A tubular heat exchanger, with a thermoelectric power generation function, includes: a thermoelectric power generation module 2 mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the heat exhaust tube 1; and a cooling pipe 3 mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the thermoelectric power generation module 2. The cooling pipe 3 is for allowing a cooling material to flow therethrough. The thermoelectric power generation module 2 performs thermoelectric power generation by using the outer circumferential surface of the heat exhaust tube 1 as a high-temperature source and using the inner circumferential surface of the cooling pipe 3 as a low-temperature source. The cooling pipe 3 is in tight attachment to the outer circumferential surface of the thermoelectric power generation module 2.

Abstract: Articles are described including a substrate and a copper halide layer on the substrate, where the interfacial free energy between the substrate and the copper halide layer allows the copper halide layer to form continuously, wherein the copper halide layer conforms to the shape of the substrate. The articles may further include an adhesion layer disposed in-between the substrate and the copper halide layer, where the surface free energy between the adhesion layer and the copper halide layer allows the copper halide layer to form continuously, wherein the copper halide layer or the adhesion layer conform to the shape of the substrate. Also described are methods of forming an article using chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: Provided is a solar cell including: a semiconductor substrate having a substantially rectangular shape; and collector electrodes. The semiconductor substrate is sectioned into first, second, third, and fourth large sections by a first large sectioning line passing a center of a first side of the semiconductor substrate and substantially parallel to a second side of the semiconductor substrate and a second large sectioning line passing through a center of the second side of the semiconductor substrate and substantially parallel to the first side of the semiconductor substrate. The collector electrodes include finger electrodes. The finger electrodes provided on each of the first and third large sections extends in a first direction, and the finger electrodes provided on each of the second and the fourth large sections extends in a second direction.

Abstract: A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) device is provided. The LSC device has an active layer including a modified luminophore having a polymethine component including a plurality of methine groups (?CH—)n, where n is an odd integer greater than 1. A hydrogen atom (H) of one of the plurality of methine groups is replaced by one of -AR1R2 or -DR3, where A is selected from nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) and D is selected from oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te), R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups bound to A through a carbon atom, or R1 and R2 together form an alicyclic ring containing A, and R3 is selected from H, aliphatic groups, aromatic groups, and alicyclic groups bound to D through a carbon atom.

Abstract: A mixture including: 99% to 99.9999% by weight of at least one lithium salt A; and 1 ppm to 10,000 ppm by weight of at least one potassium salt B. Also, a battery including at least one electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell including a negative electrode, a positive electrode and the mixture.

Abstract: The invention develops a novel hole-transporting material (HTM), PTAA-P1 and PTAA-P2 via the backbone engineering strategy to modulate wettability and promote anchoring. The HTM properties can be effectively modified by varying the linkage sites of incorporated pyridine units. The 3,5-linked PTAA-P1 particularly demonstrates a more regulated molecular configuration for interacting with perovskites, forming a highly crystalline perovskite film with uniform back contact and reduced defect density. The invention also develops the perovskite solar cell including the novel HTM with remarkable PCE efficiency and stability for small-area and large-area solar cells. The invention also develops the method for fabricating the perovskite solar cell.

Abstract: A solar panel mount that retains a solar panel in an installed position. The solar panel mount can include a panel rest having a seating surface for the solar panel. The solar panel mount can further have a first support structure defining a first retaining channel positioned to receive a first edge of the solar panel in an installed position. The solar panel mount can further include second support structure defining a second retaining channel. The first and second retaining channels can be spatially positioned apart from each other at a distance greater than a length of the solar panel such that the first and second retaining channels are positioned to receive respective first and second edges of the solar panel to secure the solar panel in the installed position.

Abstract: One embodiment is a photovoltaic (PV) module including a frame to receive a perimeter of a backside of a photovoltaic (PV) laminate. The cross rail assembly may include: a conductive frame to receive a perimeter of a backside of a photovoltaic (PV) laminate; one or more conductive cross rail members provide structural rigidity to the conductive frame; and one or more pairs of couplers coupled to the conductive frame, wherein: at least one coupler comprises a grounding coupler having a first keyed section to insert into an opening in the conductive frame and a second keyed section to mate with an end of a conductive cross rail member of the one or more conductive cross rail members to ground the conductive cross rail member to the frame; or at least one coupler of at least one of the one or more pairs includes a length to define a cabling channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a passivated perovskite structure containing a perovskite layer; and a hindered urea bond-based Lewis acid-base containing layer adjacent the perovskite layer. Also disclosed are solar cells containing the passivated perovskite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a frame for photovoltaic modules into which connection sockets and module electronics can be integrated so as to be easily accessible and which is simultaneously used as a guide system for connection cables.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generation device includes: a first substrate having a first surface; a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface; a plurality of thermoelectric generation modules each of which has a plurality of thermoelectric elements and electrodes connecting the thermoelectric elements and which is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; and wiring that is arranged on the first surface and that connects the plurality of thermoelectric generation modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a solar panel curved in two directions. A problem occurs when solar cells are laminated (attached) to a curved surface (such as the—transparent—roof of a car) that is, at least locally, curved in two directions. Solar cells can bend in one direction (following a cylindrical surface), but to a much smaller degree in two directions. The invention solves this problem by subdividing the multitude of solar cells (100) in subgroups (302L, 302R, 304L, 304R, 306L, 306R, 308L, 308R), each subgroup associated with an area of the curved surface (202). By choosing these subgroups such, that almost no curvature occurs in one direction, the solar cells can be bend in the perpendicular direction. To optimize the efficiency further solar cells are used where anode and cathode are positioned at one side (the side opposite to the photosensitive side), enabling flexible foil to be used for the interconnection of the solar cells in a subgroup.

Abstract: A solar cell capable of preventing short-circuiting during signaling connection and a method for manufacturing the solar cell. A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor layer having a conductivity type different from that of the semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor layer includes a main functional portion which has a first base end portion on one side in a first direction of the semiconductor substrate over an entire length in a second direction and a plurality of first collecting portions extending from the first base end portion toward the other side in the first direction and on which a first electrode pattern is stacked, and an isolation portion which is formed linearly at an end portion on the other side in the first direction of the semiconductor substrate over an entire length in the second direction and on which the first electrode pattern is not stacked.

Abstract: In one aspect, organic-inorganic nanoparticle compositions are described herein comprising engineered surfaces which, in some embodiments, reduce non-radiative recombination mechanisms, thereby providing optoelectronic devices with enhanced efficiencies. In some embodiments, a nanoparticle composition comprises a layer of organic-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals, the organic-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals comprising surfaces associated with growth passivation ligands and trap passivation ligands, wherein the growth passivation ligands are larger than the trap passivation ligands and are of size unable to incorporate into octahedral corner sites of the perovskite crystal structure.

Abstract: A reconfigurable solar array has a plurality of photovoltaic cells and an interconnect circuit including a plurality of switches for interconnecting the photovoltaic cells. A thermostatic feedback control circuit in communication with a temperature sensor is configured to produce a temperature signal that is proportional to a temperature of the photovoltaic cells. The thermostatic feedback control circuit is configured to cause at least one of the switches to change state at a preset temperature that is independent of supply voltage. When the temperature is above the preset temperature, the photovoltaic cells are arranged in a plurality of strings connected in parallel. When the temperature is at or below the preset temperature, at least one photovoltaic cell in each string is disconnected from a respective string and reconnected in series to each other to form a new string connected in parallel to the other strings.

Abstract: A solar tracker system includes a photovoltaic panel and an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic panel and configured to actuate to rotate the photovoltaic panel around a base. A controller communicatively coupled to the actuator is configured to detect a direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel. Based on the direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel, the controller adaptively controls the actuator to set a stow position of the photovoltaic panel.

Abstract: A device for converting solar radiation is described wherein the device comprises an inorganic luminescent material comprising a host material doped with Mn5+ ions for converting radiation of the UV and/or visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum into radiation of the near-infrared radiation part of the electromagnetic spectrum, preferably the infrared part between 1150 nm and 1250 nm, preferably around 1190 nm (the infrared emission peak of Mn5+); or, an amorphous host material doped with Sm2+ or Tm2+ ions, the amorphous host material including the elements Al, Si, O and N (SiAlON) for converting radiation of the UV and/or visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum into radiation of a longer wavelength, preferably a longer wavelength between 650 nm and 800 nm or a longer wavelength of around 1140 nm; and, at least one photovoltaic device for converting at least part of the converted radiation into electrical power.

Abstract: A solar cell of an embodiment includes a p-electrode, an n-electrode, a p-type light-absorbing layer located between the p-electrode and the n-electrode and comprising a cuprous oxide, and an n-type layer comprising a first n-type layer, which is located between the p-type light-absorbing layer and the n-electrode and comprising a defined compound aiding in conversion efficiency. The n-type layer further comprises a second n-type layer which is located between the first n-type layer and the n-electrode and mainly contains another compound aiding in conversion efficiency.