Abstract: A solar device and a process for preparing a self-cleaning coating on the solar device is disclosed, the process comprises providing a coating composition, adding to the coating composition nanocrystals of a photoactive material, and applying the mixture of coating composition and photoactive material to a surface of a substrate at an elevated temperature, to deposit a self-cleaning coating on the surface of the substrate. The solar device comprises a solar energy conversion device, including a transparent substrate, and a self-cleaning coating adhered to a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for applying a metal oxide coating to a substrate, the process comprising the steps of providing a solution of a metal compound in a solvent, spraying the solution onto the surface of a hot substrate, and pyrolyzing the solution to form a coating of metal oxide on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a homogeneous pyrolytic coating on substrates. These coatings would include insulator, metal and semiconductor films on a glass substrate. The apparatus controls the size and distribution of the spray droplets to improve the uniformity of the coatings.

Abstract: A deposition system (20) for depositing a material layer on a glass sheet substrate includes a lateral alignment mechanism (28) for laterally aligning glass sheet substrates with an ingress seal (48) of a deposition station (22). The lateral alignment mechanism (28) includes a pair of banks (164, 166) of alignment members (168) spaced laterally with respect to each other along the direction of conveyance. Round alignment surfaces (170) of the alignment members (168) are located above conveyor rolls (96) upstream from the housing of the deposition station and are rotatable about associated vertical axes. A positioner (172) moves one of the banks of alignment members (168) laterally with respect to the direction of conveyance toward the other bank of alignment members to laterally align the glass sheet substrate along the direction of conveyance with the ingress seal assembly (48).

Abstract: A processing system (20,20') for processing sheet glass G includes a housing (22) and at least one slit seal (38i,38i',38e,38e') constructed to permit continuous passage of sheet glass in an efficient manner without fluttering. The slit seal functions as both an ingress slit seal (38i,38i') and as an egress slit seal (38e,38e'). Each slit seal has side seals (100, 102, 112, 114) and preferably has three stages of vacuum drawn by an associated first, second and third vacuum pumps (80,82,84). The sealing method for use in processing sheet glass has particular utility in connection with depositing semiconductor materials for photovoltaics and can be performed on either discrete glass sheets (28) or a continuous glass ribbon (30).