Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrical-energy storage device includes: depositing a first conductive layer onto a substrate; spin-coating a photoresist layer onto the conductive layer; applying a mask to the photoresist layer and exposing the masked photoresist layer under a light, the mask having a predefined pattern; removing the un-exposed part of the photoresist layer with development; depositing a first conductive material to the photoresist layer for allowing the conductive material to fill the removed part of the photoresist layer; dissolving the photoresist layer for forming a first set of conductive structures; depositing a layer of a dielectric material to the deposited first conductive material for forming a dielectric layer thereon; depositing a second conductive material to the dielectric layer forming a second set of structures, and electroplating a third conductive material to the second set of structures.

Abstract: An electrical-energy storage device for storing electrical energy for use as a power source includes: a conductive or semi-conductive first metasurface layer; a conductive or semi-conductive second metasurface layer; and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first and the second metasurface layers for electrically insulating the first metasurface layer from the second metasurface layer.

Abstract: Power-electronic systems and components thereof such as electrical-energy storage apparatuses/subsystems in the form of supercapacitors and power-electronic apparatuses/subsystems are disclosed. A supercapacitor has a conductive or semi-conductive first metasurface layer, a conductive or semi-conductive second metasurface layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first and the second metasurface layers for electrically insulating the first metasurface layer from the second metasurface layer. An electrical power conversion apparatus has a first power conversion circuitry for converting a first portion of electrical power received from an electrical power source and outputting the converted electrical power via an output.

Abstract: A power circuitry has a first input circuit for coupling to a first energy source, a second input circuit for coupling to a second energy source, a third circuit coupled to the first and second input circuits for combining outputs of the first and second circuits and outputting electrical energy via a direct-current output thereof, and a control circuit coupled to the first, second, and third circuits for controlling the output of the third circuit by controlling parameters of the first, second, and third circuits based on output voltages of the first and second energy sources, outputs of the first and second input circuits coupling to the third circuits, and an output voltage of the third circuit.

Abstract: A power circuitry has a first input circuit for coupling to a first energy source, a second input circuit for coupling to a second energy source, a third circuit coupled to the first and second input circuits for combining outputs of the first and second circuits and outputting electrical energy via a direct-current output thereof, and a control circuit coupled to the first, second, and third circuits for controlling the output of the third circuit by controlling parameters of the first, second, and third circuits based on output voltages of the first and second energy sources, outputs of the first and second input circuits coupling to the third circuits, and an output voltage of the third circuit.

Abstract: A thermoelectric recycling structure has a heat-conductive first component for engaging a heat source for receiving heat generated therefrom, a second component spaced from the first component, and a heat-nonconductive and electrons-and-holes-transportive thermoelectric layer sandwiched between the first and second components for receiving the heat from the first component and converting the received heat to electrical power.

Abstract: Power-electronic systems and components thereof such as electrical-energy storage apparatuses/subsystems in the form of supercapacitors and power-electronic apparatuses/subsystems are disclosed. A supercapacitor has a conductive or semi-conductive first metasurface layer, a conductive or semi-conductive second metasurface layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first and the second metasurface layers for electrically insulating the first metasurface layer from the second metasurface layer. An electrical power conversion apparatus has a first power conversion circuitry for converting a first portion of electrical power received from an electrical power source and outputting the converted electrical power via an output.

Abstract: A thermoelectric recycling structure has a heat-conductive first component for engaging a heat source for receiving heat generated therefrom, a second component spaced from the first component, and a heat-nonconductive and electrons-and-holes-transportive thermoelectric layer sandwiched between the first and second components for receiving the heat from the first component and converting the received heat to electrical power.

Abstract: A multi-layer apparatus has a transparent or semi-transparent substrate, a solar-cell layer coupled to the substrate, an energy-storage layer coupled to the solar-cell layer, and a converter layer coupled to the energy-storage layer. The solar-cell layer has a plurality of solar cells for receiving light through the substrate and converting energy of the received light to a first electrical energy, the energy-storage layer has one or more energy-storage units for storing a second electrical energy, and the converter layer has one or more power converters electrically connected to the solar-cell layer and the energy-storage layer for receiving the first electrical energy and the second electrical energy therefrom and outputting a third electrical energy via an output thereof.

Abstract: A multi-layer apparatus has a transparent or semi-transparent substrate, a solar-cell layer coupled to the substrate, an energy-storage layer coupled to the solar-cell layer, and a converter layer coupled to the energy-storage layer. The solar-cell layer has a plurality of solar cells for receiving light through the substrate and converting energy of the received light to a first electrical energy, the energy-storage layer has one or more energy-storage units for storing a second electrical energy, and the converter layer has one or more power converters electrically connected to the solar-cell layer and the energy-storage layer for receiving the first electrical energy and the second electrical energy therefrom and outputting a third electrical energy via an output thereof.