Abstract: A novel treatment method is disclosed, wherein a patch configured to be placed on a patient's skin is activated, before placement, to deliver localized radiotherapy to a diseased area of the skin. The disclosed devices and methods minimize or prevent collateral damage to the neighboring tissues. In most cases, the disclosed devices and methods include coating a contoured, solid, flexible or conformal substrate with one or more lanthanide elements and then activating (e.g. neutron irradiation) the elements such that its resulting radioisotope emits beta-particles into the diseased skin surface when applied to the patient's skin. Novel processes are described for fabricating and irradiating the lanthanide-based skin patch, for example a holmium-based skin patch.

Abstract: A device for surface brachytherapy includes a base configured for positioning a source with respect to a target area, an aperture defined in the base, and a shield body configured for coupling with the base, so that the source is secured within the base proximate or adjacent the aperture. The aperture is configured to transmit radiation emitted by the source, where the radiation is directed toward the target area. The base and shield body are configured to absorb at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the source, where the radiation is not directed toward the target area.

Abstract: A novel treatment method is disclosed, wherein a patch configured to be placed on a patient's skin is activated, before placement, to deliver localized radiotherapy to a diseased area of the skin. The disclosed devices and methods minimize or prevent collateral damage to the neighboring tissues. In most cases, the disclosed devices and methods include coating a contoured, solid, flexible or conformal substrate with one or more lanthanide elements and then activating (e.g. neutron irradiation) the elements such that its resulting radioisotope emits beta-particles into the diseased skin surface when applied to the patient's skin. Novel processes are described for fabricating and irradiating the lanthanide-based skin patch, for example a holmium-based skin patch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preparing a photovoltaic device. In particular, the method comprises integrating epitaxial lift-off solar cells with mini-parabolic concentrator arrays via a printing method. Thus, there is disclosed a method comprising providing a growth substrate; depositing at least one protection layer on the growth substrate; depositing at least one sacrificial layer on the protection layer; depositing at least one photoactive cell on the sacrificial layer; etching a pattern of at least two parallel trenches that extend from the at least one photoactive cell to the sacrificial layer; depositing a metal on the at least one photoactive cell; bonding said metal to a host substrate; and removing the sacrificial layer with one or more etch steps. The host substrate can be a siloxane, which when rolled, can form a stamp used to integrate solar cells into concentrator arrays. There are also disclosed a method of making a growth substrate and the growth substrate made therefrom.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preserving the integrity of a growth substrate in a epitaxial lift-off method, the method comprising providing a structure comprising a growth substrate, one or more protective layers, a sacrificial layer, and at least one epilayer, wherein the sacrificial layer and the one or more protective layers are positioned between the growth substrate and the at least one epilayer; releasing the at least one epilayer by etching the sacrificial layer with an etchant; and heat treating the growth substrate and/or at least one of the protective layers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preparing a photovoltaic device. In particular, the method comprises integrating epitaxial lift-off solar cells with mini-parabolic concentrator arrays via a printing method. Thus, there is disclosed a method comprising providing a growth substrate; depositing at least one protection layer on the growth substrate; depositing at least one sacrificial layer on the protection layer; depositing at least one photoactive cell on the sacrificial layer; etching a pattern of at least two parallel trenches that extend from the at least one photoactive cell to the sacrificial layer; depositing a metal on the at least one photoactive cell; bonding said metal to a host substrate; and removing the sacrificial layer with one or more etch steps. The host substrate can be a siloxane, which when rolled, can form a stamp used to integrate solar cells into concentrator arrays. There are also disclosed a method of making a growth substrate and the growth substrate made therefrom.

Abstract: A high efficiency small molecule tandem solar cell is disclosed. The tandem cell may include a first subcell comprising a first photoactive region and a second subcell comprising a second photoactive region. The first and second photoactive regions are designed to minimize spectral overlap and maximize photocurrent. The device may further include an interconnecting layer, disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, that is at least substantially transparent.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thin film device for epitaxial lift off comprising a handle and one or more straining layers disposed on the handle, wherein the one or more straining layers induce a curvature of the handle. There is also disclosed a method of fabricating a thin film device for epitaxial lift off comprising, depositing one or more straining layers on a handle, wherein the one or more straining layers induce at least one strain on the handle chosen from tensile strain, compressive strain and near-neutral strain. There is also disclosed a method for epitaxial lift off comprising, depositing an epilayer over a sacrificial layer disposed on a growth substrate; depositing one or more straining layers on at least one of the growth substrate and a handle; bonding the handle to the growth substrate; and etching the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: Coordinating additives are included in porphyrinoid-based materials to promote intermolecular organization and improve one or more photoelectric characteristics of the materials. The coordinating additives are selected from fullerene compounds and organic compounds having free electron pairs. Combinations of different coordinating additives can be used to tailor the characteristic properties of such porphyrinoid-based materials, including porphyrin oligomers. Bidentate ligands are one type of coordinating additive that can form coordination bonds with a central metal ion of two different porphyrinoid compounds to promote porphyrinoid alignment and/or pi-stacking. The coordinating additives can shift the absorption spectrum of a photoactive material toward higher wavelengths, increase the external quantum efficiency of the material, or both.

Abstract: Coordinating additives are included in porphyrinoid-based materials to promote intermolecular organization and improve one or more photoelectric characteristics of the materials. The coordinating additives are selected from fullerene compounds and organic compounds having free electron pairs. Combinations of different coordinating additives can be used to tailor the characteristic properties of such porphyrinoid-based materials, including porphyrin oligomers. Bidentate ligands are one type of coordinating additive that can form coordination bonds with a central metal ion of two different porphyrinoid compounds to promote porphyrinoid alignment and/or pi-stacking. The coordinating additives can shift the absorption spectrum of a photoactive material toward higher wavelengths, increase the external quantum efficiency of the material, or both.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods of making photosensitive devices, such as flexible photovoltaic (PV) devices, through the use of epitaxial liftoff. Also described herein are methods of preparing flexible PV devices comprising a structure having a growth substrate, wherein the selective etching of protective layers yields a smooth growth substrate that us suitable for reuse.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preserving the integrity of a growth substrate in a epitaxial lift-off method, the method comprising providing a structure comprising a growth substrate, one or more protective layers, a sacrificial layer, and at least one epilayer, wherein the sacrificial layer and the one or more protective layers are positioned between the growth substrate and the at least one epilayer; releasing the at least one epilayer by etching the sacrificial layer with an etchant; and heat treating the growth substrate and/or at least one of the protective layers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a growth structure comprising a growth substrate, a sacrificial layer, a buffer layer, at least three substrate protective layers, at least one epilayer, at least one contact, and a metal or alloy-coated host substrate. In one embodiment, the device further comprises at least three device structure protecting layers. The sacrificial layer may be positioned between the growth substrate and the at least one epilayer, wherein the at least three substrate protective layers are positioned between the growth substrate and the sacrificial layer, and the at least three device structure protecting layers are positioned between the sacrificial layer and the epilayer. There is also disclosed a method of preserving the integrity of a growth substrate by releasing the cell structure by etching the sacrificial layer and the protective layers.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods of making photosensitive devices, such as flexible photovoltaic (PV) devices, through the use of epitaxial liftoff. Also described herein are methods of preparing flexible PV devices comprising a structure having a growth substrate, wherein the selective etching of protective layers yields a smooth growth substrate that us suitable for reuse.

Abstract: There is disclosed methods of making photosensitive devices, such as flexible photovoltaic (PV) devices, through the use of epitaxial liftoff. Also described herein are methods of preparing flexible PV devices comprising a structure having a growth substrate, wherein the selective etching of protective layers yields a smooth growth substrate that us suitable for reuse.

Abstract: A method and device that incorporates metallic nanoparticles at the p+-n+ tunnel junction in a cascaded photovoltaic solar cell. The use of the nanoparticles enhances the tunneling current density through the tunnel junction. As such, the efficiency of the solar cell is increased. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises making a first solar cell having a first bandgap, making a tunnel junction coupled to the first solar cell, and making a second solar cell having a second bandgap, coupled to the tunnel junction opposite the first solar cell, wherein the tunnel junction comprises nanoparticles. Such a method further optionally includes the nanoparticles being a metal or a semi metal, specifically a semi-metal of erbium arsenide, the nanoparticles being deposited in an island structure within the tunnel junction, and the first solar cell being deposited on a flexible substrate.