Abstract: A method for setting a temperature rising profile of a sensor element in the activation of a gas sensor is capable of quickly increasing the temperature of the sensor element while reliably preventing or reducing the occurrence of a crack. The method includes Weibull plotting a failure rate that is a cumulative frequency at which a crack occurs as a result of the rapid temperature rising of the sensor element, identifying a temperature-rising-rate upper limit from the plotting results, determining, based on the temperature-rising-rate upper limit, a temperature-rise upper limit curve, and determining, as an appropriate function, a temperature rising profile in a range in which a temperature rising rate at an appropriate temperature does not exceed values on the temperature-rising-rate upper limit curve for the temperature.

Abstract: A micro-inverter assembly includes a housing having an opening formed in a bottom surface thereof, and a direct current (DC)-to-alternating current (AC) micro-inverter disposed within the housing at a position adjacent to the opening. The micro-inverter assembly further includes a micro-inverter DC connector electrically coupled to the DC-to-AC micro-inverter and positioned within the opening of the housing, the micro-inverter DC connector having a plurality of exposed electrical contacts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an emitter wrap-through solar cell and a method for preparing the same. The solar cell according to the present invention has a structure that may minimize generation of leakage current and minimize energy conversion efficiency measurement error. And, the preparation method of a solar cell according to the present invention may easily confirm the alignment state of the electrode, and thus, provide more improved productivity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film thermo-electric generator includes the steps of: forming two or more PN junctions each having a three-layer structure; forming a substrate which has a first side and an opposed second side; coupling the PN junctions at the first side of the substrate to define a first group of PN junctions at the first side of the substrate; and providing two electrodes that one of the electrodes is extracted from the first group of PN junctions. Accordingly, each of the PN junctions is formed by depositing an insulating thin-film layer between a P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer and a N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer.

Abstract: An integrated thin-film lateral multi-junction solar device and fabrication method are provided. The device includes, for instance, a substrate, and a plurality of stacks extending vertically from the substrate. Each stack may include layers, and be electrically isolated against another stack. Each stack may also include an energy storage device above the substrate, a solar cell above the energy storage device, a transparent medium above the solar cell, and a micro-optic layer of spectrally dispersive and concentrating optical devices above the transparent medium. Furthermore, the device may include a first power converter connected between the energy storage device and a power bus, and a second power converter connected between the solar cell and the power bus. Further, different solar cells of different stacks may have different absorption characteristics.

Abstract: To improve the yield of a solar cell in its production process, a solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate including a first main surface and a second main surface corresponding to the backside of the first main surface, a busbar electrode on a line extending in a first direction on the second main surface, and end-portion electrodes each being an extension of the busbar electrode on the second main surface and separated from the busbar electrode, and each of the end-portion electrodes having a larger thickness than that of the busbar electrode.

Abstract: A device for self-tracking a light source, including a focusing optical device configured to focus incoming light to a focal spot, an adaptive device configured to reflect the light of the focal spot and arranged to provide for a phase change at an area of the focal spot of the incoming light to generate a reflected light, and a light guide located between the focusing optical device and the adaptive device, the light guide configured to capture the reflected light of the adaptive device.

Abstract: An electrically-driven separation apparatus can be utilized to desalinate seawater and/or brackish water to provide irrigation water having a desired sodium adsorption ratio (SAR).

Abstract: Phononic structures, devices related to phononic structures, and methods related to fabrication of the phononic structures are described. The phononic structure can include a sheet of material, where the sheet of material can include a plurality of regions. Adjacent regions in the sheet of material can have dissimilar phononic patterns.

Abstract: Provided are a conductive thin film, a method for producing same, and an electronic element comprising same. The conductive thin film has excellent conductivity, allows the easy adjustment of a work function, also allows easy film formation, and thus can be advantageously used in various electronic elements, such as organic light-emitting devices and organic solar cells.

Abstract: A handheld device for analysis of electrophysiological properties of a cellular membrane ion channel in an ion channel containing lipid cellular membrane includes a handheld body with a pump, an electronic controller, and a disposable pipette tip including a pathway for fluid. The pathway connects an open end of the pipette tip to an analysis substrate in the pipette tip. The substrate is adapted to transmit an electrical current through the ion channel. The handheld body and the disposable pipette tip are configured to releasably attach the pipette tip to the body, to provide a hydraulic connection between the pump and the pathway, and to provide an electric connection between the electronic controller and at least one of the electrodes of the substrate. The electronic controller of the handheld body is configured to operate the assembled device for microfluidic analysis of aspirated fluid.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming an absorber layer comprising an absorber material above a substrate, forming a buffer layer over the absorber layer, forming a front transparent layer over the buffer layer, and exposing the photovoltaic device to heat or radiation at a temperature from about 80° C. to about 500° C. for a period of time, subsequent to the step of forming a buffer layer over the absorber layer.

Abstract: A solar cell is formed to have a silicon semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; an emitter layer having a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type and formed on a first surface of the silicon semiconductor substrate; a back surface field layer having the first conductive type and formed on a second surface of the silicon semiconductor substrate opposite to the first surface; and wherein the emitter layer includes at least a first shallow doping area and the back surface field layer includes at least a second shallow doping area, and wherein a thickness of the first shallow doping area of the emitter layer is different from a thickness of the second shallow doping area of the back surface field layer.

Abstract: A solar cell can include a substrate and a semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate. The solar cell can also include a conductive contact disposed on the semiconductor region with the conductive contact including a paste, a first metal, and a first conductive portion that includes a conductive alloy formed from the first metal at an interface of the substrate and the semiconductor region.

Abstract: This invention relates to mutagenized redox oxidase enzymes used to design enzyme electrodes with improved interference characteristics in the presence of mediator and oxygen in the assay. This recombinant modified enzyme has enhanced capability to transfer electrons to redox mediator instead of its natural electron acceptors such as O2, NAD, NADP, etc., which will improve the assay performance with less interference and higher sensitivity.

Abstract: Disclosed are a solar cell and a method for manufacturing the same. The solar cell comprises asymmetric nanowires each of which has an angled sidewall, and thus incident light can be concentrated at a p-n junction portion by means of a total reflection phenomenon of light caused by the difference between the refractive indices of a semiconductor layer and a transparent electrode layer, and light absorption may increase due to an increase in the light travel distance, thus improving photoelectric efficiency. Further, the method for manufacturing the solar cell involves etching a substrate and integrally forming the substrate and a p-type semiconductor layer including the asymmetric nanowires each of which has the angled sidewalls, thereby enabling reduced manufacturing costs and simple and easy manufacture of the nanowires having the angled sidewalls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for parallel recording of impedance spectra and field potential of cells in vitro.

Abstract: In a method of performing dilution of a droplet in an EWOD device, a parent droplet is provided on an electrode array of the EWOD device, wherein the parent droplet has a first concentration of a species. A diluent droplet also is provided on the electrode array of the EWOD device. The method includes controlling actuation voltages applied to the electrode array of the EWOD device to join the parent droplet and the diluent droplet into a product droplet having a diluted second concentration of the species different from the first concentration in the parent droplet. The actuation voltages then are controlled to split the product droplet into one or more daughter droplets having the second concentration of the species. A dilution ratio may be calibrated based on the volumes of the droplets. Serial dilution steps may be performed to generate daughter droplets of different species concentrations at each step.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell module includes a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells electrically connected in series. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a first electrode that comprises a transparent substrate, and a transparent conductive film provided on the transparent substrate, a second electrode that faces the first electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer that is provided on the first electrode or the second electrode, and an annular sealing section that joins the first electrode and the second electrode. The transparent substrate is composed of a transparent substrate that is common to the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells. The second electrodes of two adjoining dye-sensitized solar cells are separated apart from each other. The sealing section includes an annular first sealing section that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first sealing sections that are adjoining are integrated together.

Abstract: A solar cell can include a substrate and a semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate. The solar cell can also include a conductive contact disposed on the semiconductor region with the conductive contact including deformed conductive particles.