Abstract: A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided which includes a plurality of junction layers. Each junction layer includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to one another. At least one of the junction layers is at least in part optically transmissive. The junction layers are arranged in a stack on top of each other.

Abstract: An ice resistant structure is provided which includes a self-supporting, structural platform, a retaining, protective layer and a subsurface anti-icing (AI) and/or de-icing (DI) layer. The retaining, protective layer is disposed over the self-supporting, structural platform. The subsurface anti-icing (AI) and/or de-icing (DI) layer is located between the self-supporting, structural platform and the retaining, protective layer. The subsurface Al and/or DI layer is a functional layer such that an Al and/or DI agent is released to a surface of the retaining protective layer by an activation mechanism responsive to a change in an environmental condition.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided which includes a plurality of junction layers. Each junction layer includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to one another. At least one of the junction layers is at least in part optically transmissive. The junction layers are arranged in a stack on top of each other.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A multi-input electrical power conversion device is provided for converting multiple DC energies each arising from different junctions in a multi-junction solar cells into AC energy. The device includes a plurality of electrical inputs for receiving the multiple DC energies from at least one multi junction solar cell. The number of DC energies id no less than the number of junctions in the multi-junction solar cell. The device also includes at least one DC-to-AC circuit for receiving the multiple DC energies from the plurality of electrical inputs and at least one electrical output receiving at least one AC energy from the DC to AC circuit. The device also includes at least one MPPT circuit operatively coupled to the DC to AC circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming compositionally homogeneous particles is provided. The method includes forming a homogenous melt from a plurality of constituent materials under a first pressure sufficient to prevent substantial vaporization of the constituent materials. Droplets are generated from the homogenous melt. The droplets are cooled under a second pressure sufficient to prevent substantial vaporization of the constituent materials at least until the homogeneous particles formed therefrom have stabilized.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes forming on a substrate a first thin-film absorber layer using a first deposition process. A second thin-film absorber layer is formed on the first thin-film absorber layer using a second deposition process different from the first deposition process. The first and second thin-film absorber layers are each photovoltaically active regions and the second thin-film absorber layer has a smaller concentration of defects than the first thin-film absorber layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a film of compound material. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a film on the substrate. The deposited film has a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and at least one second chemical element. At least one residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing at least one second chemical element to thereby increase the content of at least one second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The content of at least one second element in the second chemical composition is larger than the content of at least one second element in the first chemical composition.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a film of compound material. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a film on the substrate. The deposited film has a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and at least one second chemical element. At least one residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing at least one second chemical element to thereby increase the content of at least one second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The content of at least one second element in the second chemical composition is larger than the content of at least one second element in the first chemical composition.

Abstract: A method is provided for converting optical energy to electrical energy in a spectrally adaptive manner. The method begins by directing optical energy into a first photovoltaic module that includes non-single crystalline semiconductor layers defining a junction such that a first spectral portion of the optical energy is converted into a first quantity of electrical energy. A second spectral portion of the optical energy unabsorbed by the first module is absorbed by a second photovoltaic module that includes non-single crystalline semiconductor layers defining a junction and converted into a second quantity of electrical energy. The first quantity of electrical energy is conducted from the first module to a first external electrical circuit along a first path. The second quantity of electrical energy is conducted from the second module to a second external electrical circuit along a second path that is in parallel with the first path.

Abstract: A method for producing a film of compound semiconductor includes providing a substrate and a compound bulk material having a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and a second chemical element. A film is deposited on the substrate using the compound bulk material as a single source of material. The deposited film has a composition substantially the same as the first chemical composition. A residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing the second chemical element to thereby increase the content of the second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The film may be employed in a photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A method for producing a film of compound semiconductor includes providing a substrate and a compound bulk material having a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and a second chemical element. A film is deposited on the substrate using the compound bulk material as a single source of material. The deposited film has a composition substantially the same as the first chemical composition. A residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing the second chemical element to thereby increase the content of the second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The film may be employed in a photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A patterned photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell, at least one carrier substrate attached to the cell, and at least one opening extending through the cell and the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin-film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor material. This pre-reaction typically includes processing above the liquidus temperature of the compound semiconductor. The compound semiconductor material is reduced to a particulate form and deposited onto a substrate to form a thin-film having a composition and atomic structure substantially the same as a composition and atomic structure of the compound semiconductor material.

Abstract: A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device is provided. The device includes an active area and at least one photovoltaic cell located in the active area. The photovoltaic cell has an elongated shape with a characteristic width and a characteristic length. The characteristic length is greater than the characteristic width and an average distance from the photovoltaic cell to any edge of the active area is greater than the characteristic width.