Abstract: Disclosed are a flexible solar cell apparatus and a method of fabricating the same. The flexible solar cell apparatus includes a support substrate including an internal region and an outer region surrounding the internal region, a plurality of solar cells on the internal region, and a protective layer on the outer region and the solar cells. A top surface of each solar cell is lower than a top surface of the outer region of the support substrate.

Abstract: A bismuth ferrite thin-film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same control the quantity of Fe2+ defected in the bismuth ferrite thin-film by doping with zinc. Reduction of the quantity of Fe2+ defects in the bismuth ferrite thin-film is conducive to the increase of closed-circuit current density and enhancement of photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a transparent conductive layer; a window layer disposed on the transparent conductive layer; and an absorber layer disposed on the window layer. The window layer includes a low-diffusivity layer disposed adjacent to the transparent conductive layer and a high-diffusivity layer interposed between the low-diffusivity layer and the absorber layer. Method of making a photovoltaic device is also presented.

Abstract: A solar cell module according to an embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of solar cells each including a substrate, a first electrode current collector which is positioned at a first edge of a back surface of the substrate and extends in a first direction, and a second electrode current collector which is positioned at a second edge of the back surface of the substrate and extends in the first direction, a conductive adhesive film contacting a first electrode current collector of a first solar cell of the plurality of solar cells, or a second electrode current collector of a second solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell, or both, and an interconnector which contacts the conductive adhesive film and electrically connects the adjacent first and second solar cells to each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor optoelectronic device comprises a growth substrate; a semiconductor epitaxial stack formed on the growth substrate comprising a sacrificial layer with electrical conductivity formed on the growth substrate; a first semiconductor material layer having a first electrical conductivity formed on the sacrificial layer, and a second semiconductor material layer having a second electrical conductivity formed on the first semiconductor material layer; and a first electrode directly formed on the growth substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor epitaxial stack via the growth substrate.

Abstract: A design of a quantum well region that allows faster and more efficient carrier collection in quantum well solar cells. It is shown that for a quantum well material system displaying a negligible valence band offset, the conduction band confinement energies and barrier thicknesses can be designed to favor a sequential thermionic promotion and resonant tunneling of electrons to the conduction band continuum resulting in faster carrier collection rates than for a conventional design. An evaluation of the proposed design in the context of devices incorporating GaAs/GaAsN quantum wells shows a collection of all photo-generated carriers within several to tenths of ps (10?12 s) from deep quantum wells rather than several ns, as it is the case for conventional designs. The incorporation of the proposed design in single and multijunction solar cells is evaluated with efficiency enhancements.

Abstract: A silicon solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The silicon solar cell includes a silicon semiconductor substrate doped with first conductive impurities, an emitter layer doped with second conductive impurities having polarities opposite polarities of the first conductive impurities on the substrate, an anti-reflective layer on an entire surface of the substrate, an upper electrode that passes through the anti-reflective layer and is connected to the emitter layer, and a lower electrode connected to a lower portion of the substrate. The emitter layer includes a first emitter layer heavily doped with the second conductive impurities and a second emitter layer lightly doped with the second conductive impurities. A surface resistance of the second emitter layer is 100 Ohm/sq to 120 Ohm/sq.

Abstract: The invention provides an oxide sintered compact 2 composed of a crystal phase which consists of a bixbite-type oxide phase and a perovskite-type oxide phase, or a bixbite-type oxide phase, the crystal phase having indium, tin, strontium and oxygen as the constituent elements, and the indium, the tin and the strontium contents satisfying formulas (1) and (2) in terms of atomic ratio, as well as a sputtering target. There are further provided an oxide transparent conductive film formed using the sputtering target, and a solar cell. Sn/(In+Sn+Sr)=0.01-0.11??(1) Sr/(In+Sn+Sr)=0.0005-0.004??(2) [In formulas (1) and (2), In, Sn and Sr represent indium, tin and strontium contents (atomic percent), respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a novel CaS-based phosphor with which chemical reactions can be inhibited even if said CaS-based phosphor is heated with a heterogeneous material. This phosphor includes: a crystalline parent material represented by the composition formula Ca1-xSrxS.yZnO (in the formula, 0?x<1, 0<y?0.5); and a luminescent center.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate, an emitter region which is positioned at the substrate and having a first sheet resistance, a first highly doped region which is positioned at the substrate and having a second sheet resistance less than the first sheet resistance, a first electrode positioned at the substrate and connected to the emitter region and the first highly doped region, and a second electrode positioned at the substrate and connected to the substrate, wherein the first highly doped region crosses the first electrode and is connected to the first electrode, an upper surface of the first highly doped region is projected from an upper surface of the emitter region toward a light incident surface of the substrate, and a lower surface of the first highly doped region has the same height as a lower surface of the emitter region.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a dye-sensitized solar cell having a solid electrolyte layer and improved durability or photoelectric conversion efficiency. A dye-sensitized solar cell 1, which comprises: a conductive base material 10; a porous semiconductor layer 20 formed on the conductive base material 10 having a porous surface carrying a sensitized dye; a counter electrode 40, which is disposed so as to face the porous semiconductor layer 20; and an electrolyte layer 30 comprising potassium iodide and a thermoplastic cellulose resin, which is formed between the conductive base material 10 and the counter electrode 40.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for internally heated concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal absorbers. The system and method involve an energy-generating device having at least one heating unit. At least one heating unit preheats the energy-generating device in order to expedite the startup time of the energy-generating device, thereby allowing for an increase in efficiency for the production of energy. In some embodiments, the energy-generating device is a CSP thermal absorber. The CSP thermal absorber comprises a housing, a thermal barrier, a light-transparent reservoir containing a liquid alkali metal, at least one alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) cell, an artery return channel, and at least one heating unit. Each heating unit comprises a heating device and a metal fin. The metal fin is submerged into the liquid alkali metal, thereby allowing the heating device to heat the liquid alkali metal via the fin.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes forming jagged portions non-uniformly on a surface of a substrate, forming a first type semiconductor and a second type semiconductor in the substrate, forming a first electrode to contact the first type semiconductor, and forming a second electrode to contact the second type semiconductor. An etchant used in a wet etching process in manufacturing the solar cell includes about 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of HF, about 30 wt % to 60 wt % of HNO3, and up to about 30 wt % of acetic acid based on total weight of the etchant.

Abstract: A photovoltaic light guide solar concentration apparatus has a deflecting layer, a light-guide layer optically coupled to the deflecting layer, a secondary optic and a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic concentration apparatus has a central optical axis that, in operation, is parallel to incident sunlight. A deflecting layer includes a plurality of focusing elements symmetrically arranged with respect to the central optical axis. The light-guide layer is optically coupled to the plurality of focusing elements of the deflecting layer. The light-guide layer has a reflective surface and a plurality of opposite facets symmetrically arranged with respect to the central axis and focused sunlight from the deflection layer enters the light-guide layer and is directed and trapped by the reflective surface and the opposite facets and guided inside the light-guide layer towards an exit aperture through total internal reflections.

Abstract: An InxGa1-xAs interlayer is provided between a III-V base and an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer of a heterojunction III-V solar cell structure. Improved surface passivation and open circuit voltage may be obtained through the incorporation of the interlayer within the structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for generating photovoltaic power. The system for generating photovoltaic power is characterized by including: a light collection part shaped like a dome bulged outward and having a light condenser lens unit for condensing incident light rays; a light diffusion part having a light diffusion lens unit for diffusing the light rays collected by the light collection part; and a solar panel for receiving the light rays diffused by the light diffusion part.

Abstract: A photovoltaic solar concentrator is disclosed with one or more transverse-junction solar cells (also termed point contact solar cells) and a lens located above each solar cell to concentrate sunlight onto the solar cell to generate electricity. Piezoelectric actuators tilt or translate each lens to track the sun using a feedback-control circuit which senses the electricity generated by one or more of the solar cells. The piezoelectric actuators can be coupled through a displacement-multiplier linkage to provide an increased range of movement of each lens. Each lens in the solar concentrator can be supported on a frame (also termed a tilt plate) having three legs, with the movement of the legs being controlled by the piezoelectric actuators.

Abstract: Light to current converter devices, such as solar cells, are disclosed. The devices may include via holes extending through the cell substrate and may include through-hole electrodes within the via holes. The through-hole electrodes may be made from one or more materials and may be hollow, partially hollow, or fully filled. Front and rear electrodes may also be formed on the device and can be made of the same or different materials as the through-hole electrode. The devices may include emitters located only on the top surface of the cell, located on the top surface and symmetrically or asymmetrically along a portion of the inner surface of the via holes, or located on the top surface and full inner surface of the via holes. Processes for making light to current converter devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter region which is positioned at a front surface of the substrate and has a second conductive type different from the first conductive type, a front passivation region including a plurality of layers which are sequentially positioned on the emitter region, a back passivation region which is positioned on a back surface opposite the front surface of the substrate and includes three layers, a plurality of front electrodes which pass through the front passivation region and are connected to the emitter region, and at least one back electrode which passes through the back passivation region and is connected to the substrate.

Abstract: Solar cell modules for converting solar energy into electrical energy, such as used in a concentrating photovoltaic system. The modules have a first ventilating opening in the module housing; and a ventilating subassembly mounted on the module housing and disposed over the ventilating opening in the module housing. The ventilating subassembly has a housing having a first chamber adjacent to and in communication with the first ventilating opening in the module housing; a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber, the second chamber having a second ventilating opening to the external environment; and a filter membrane separating the first chamber from the second chamber to allow air to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber through the filter membrane.