Abstract: A photovoltaic phase change battery system for converting intermittent solar power into day and night electrical power is disclosed. A photovoltaic array is pointed toward a solar energy source, such as Earth's sun during daytime operation, where a portion of the electricity generated is used to convert a pool of phase change material to a molten state. During night time operation the photovoltaic array is pointed at the phase change material to receive photons from thermal radiation and continue the electricity generating process.

Abstract: The invention is a power generation system which involves a water-splitting reaction employing metal feedstock to generate heat, hydrogen and metal hydroxide. The heat produced by the power generation system supplies a Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling building structures, such as homes, kiosks, commercial buildings and greenhouses. The hydrogen gas component produced by the invention is sufficient to fuel a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) and a fuel cell, which provides electricity to an associated building structure. The invention can be located on-site with a building structure and provides a readily available FCV fueling station associated with the building structure where an FCV is located.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrogen gas, heat and an oxide component using a water splitting process is disclosed. The system involves a dry first chamber containing a passivating-oxide preventing reagent that receives a solid material feedstock and dissolves the solid material feedstock in the passivating-oxide preventing reagent. The passivating-oxide preventing reagent becomes saturated with the solid material in the first chamber and is then transferred to a second chamber without contact with water. In the second chamber, the solid material saturated in the passivating-oxide preventing reagent reacts with the water so as to generate hydrogen gas, an oxide component and heat. Following the reaction, the solid material depleted passivating-oxide preventing reagent and water is recycled to be re-used in the water splitting process.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen gas, heat and an oxide component using a water splitting process is disclosed. The method involves providing a dry first chamber containing a passivating-oxide preventing reagent that receives a solid material feedstock and dissolves the solid material feedstock in the passivating-oxide preventing reagent. The passivating-oxide preventing reagent becomes saturated with the solid material in the first chamber and is then transferred to a second chamber without contact with water. In the second chamber, the solid material saturated in the passivating-oxide preventing reagent reacts with the water so as to generate hydrogen gas, an oxide component and heat. Following the reaction, the solid material depleted passivating-oxide preventing reagent and water is recycled to be re-used in the water splitting process.

Abstract: A method and system for producing hydrogen gas, heat and an oxide component using water splitting process is disclosed. The system comprises a dry first chamber containing a passivating-oxide preventing agent that receives a solid material feedstock and dissolves the solid material feedstock in the passivating-oxide preventing agent. The passivating-oxide preventing agent becomes saturated with the solid material in the first chamber and is then transferred to a second chamber without contact with water. In the second chamber, the solid material saturated in the passivating-oxide preventing agent reacts with the water so as to generate hydrogen gas, an oxide component and heat. Following the reaction, the solid material depleted passivating-oxide preventing agent and water is recycled to be re-used in the water splitting process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hydrogen and a passivating oxide using water splitting techniques is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container filled with a passivating-oxide preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of a solid-state material during oxidation and a conduit for inserting a solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent in which the solid-state material is submerged in the passivating-oxide preventing agent without being in direct contact with water. The solid-state material is capable of dissolving in the passivating-oxide preventing agent and reacting with the water. Thus, the method provides continuous dissolution of the solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent and its alloys in the presence of excess water at or near room temperature to enable continuous generation of hydrogen, passivating oxide and heat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hydrogen and a passivating oxide using water splitting techniques is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container filled with a passivating-oxide preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of a solid-state material during oxidation and a means for inserting a solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent in which the solid-state material is submerged in the passivating-oxide preventing agent without being in direct contact with water. The solid-state material is capable of dissolving in the passivating-oxide preventing agent and reacting with the water. Thus, the method provides continuous dissolution of the solid-state material into the passivating-oxide preventing agent and its alloys in the presence of excess water at or near room temperature to enable continuous generation of hydrogen, passivating oxide and heat.

Abstract: A fuel for splitting water into hydrogen and an oxide component comprises a substantially solid pellet formed from a solid-like mixture of a solid-state source material capable of oxidizing in water to form hydrogen and a passivation surface layer of the oxide component, and a passivation preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of the solid-state material during oxidation. The pellets are brought into contact with an alloy of the passivation preventing agent having a melting point temperature below that of the solid-like mixture to initiate the hydrogen-producing reaction at a lower temperature.

Abstract: A composition for splitting water into hydrogen and a hydroxide component, the composition comprising a solid-state component including at least one of aluminum and tin and a liquid metal alloy that is capable of at least partially dissolving the solid-state component, the liquid metal alloy including at least one of gallium and indium.

Abstract: A fuel for splitting water into hydrogen and an oxide component comprises a substantially solid pellet formed from a solid-like mixture of a solid-state source material capable of oxidizing in water to form hydrogen and a passivation surface layer of the oxide component, and a passivation preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of the solid-state material during oxidation. The pellets are brought into contact with an alloy of the passivation preventing agent having a melting point temperature below that of the solid-like mixture to initiate the hydrogen-producing reaction at a lower temperature.

Abstract: A fuel for splitting water into hydrogen and an oxide component comprises a substantially solid pellet formed from a solid-like mixture of a solid-state source material capable of oxidizing in water to form hydrogen and a passivation surface layer of the oxide component, and a passivation preventing agent that is substantially inert to water in an effective amount to prevent passivation of the solid-state material during oxidation. The pellets may be introduced into water or other suitable oxidizer in a controlled rate to control the rate of reaction of the source material with the oxidizer, and thereby control the rate of formation of hydrogen. Methods are described for producing the solid-like mixture in varying weight percent of source material to passivation preventing agent.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor junction is disclosed. The method includes forming a quaternary heterovalent compound semiconductor alloy epilayer, determining a doping characteristic of the epilayer, and forming a secondary layer on the epilayer to create a semiconductor junction, the secondary layer being doped in response to the determined doping characteristic of the epilayer. Solar cell and light emitting diode designs are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing highly doped semiconductor materials. Using the invention, one can achieve doping densities that exceed traditional, established carrier saturation limits without deleterious side effects. Additionally, highly doped semiconductor materials are disclosed, as well as improved electronic and optoelectronic devices/components using said materials. The innovative materials and processes enabled by the invention yield significant performance improvements and/or cost reductions for a wide variety of semiconductor-based microelectronic and optoelectronic devices/systems. Materials are grown in an anion-rich environment, which, in the preferred embodiment, are produced by moderate substrate temperatures during growth in an oxygen-poor environment.

Abstract: An optical device has an electrically insulating first barrier layer disposed over a first electrode layer, a photoconductive layer disposed over the first barrier layer, and a carrier confining layer disposed over the photoconducting layer. The carrier confining layer defines a volume throughout which a plurality of carrier traps are dispersed. Further, an electrically insulating second barrier layer is disposed over the carrier confining layer, a light blocking layer is disposed over the second barrier layer for blocking light of a selected wavelength band. A reflective layer is disposed over the light blocking layer for reflecting light within the selected wavelength band, a birefringent or dispersive layer is disposed over the reflective layer, and an optically transmissive second electrode layer is disposed over the birefringent or dispersive layer. A method is also disclosed, as are additional layers intervening between those detailed above.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing highly doped semiconductor materials. Using the invention, one can achieve doping densities that exceed traditional, established carrier saturation limits without deleterious side effects. Additionally, highly doped semiconductor materials are disclosed, as well as improved electronic and optoelectronic devices/components using said materials. The innovative materials and processes enabled by the invention yield significant performance improvements and/or cost reductions for a wide variety of semiconductor-based microelectronic and optoelectronic devices/systems. Materials are grown in an anion-rich environment, which, in the preferred embodiment, are produced by moderate substrate temperatures during growth in an oxygen-poor environment.

Abstract: Novel light-emitting and/or light-responsive semiconductor devices utilize an electric field to selectively displace packets of charged carriers in an optically-active semiconductor medium. The invention, generally referred to as field aperture selecting transport or “FAST,” provides a new way to overcome the recombination-imposed speed limits associated with traditional light-emitting semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A light emitting device providing a first part that includes a source of excess minority carriers including excess electron-hole pairs; a second part, coupled to the first part, that includes a minority carrier barrier; and a third part, coupled to the second part, that includes a region that exhibits a low radiative recombination efficiency and a short minority carrier lifetime. In response to a first stimulus minority carriers are constrained by the second part to remain in the first part, leading to an increase of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and an increase in light emission; while in response to a second stimulus the minority carriers are enabled to cross the minority carrier barrier of the second part to enter the third part, leading to a decrease of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and a decrease in light emission.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing highly doped semiconductor materials. Using the invention, one can achieve doping densities that exceed traditional, established carrier saturation limits without deleterious side effects. Additionally, highly doped semiconductor materials are disclosed, as well as improved electronic and optoelectronic devices/components using said materials. The innovative materials and processes enabled by the invention yield significant performance improvements and/or cost reductions for a wide variety of semiconductor-based microelectronic and optoelectronic devices/systems.

Abstract: A light emitting device is constructed so as to provide a first part that includes a source of excess minority carriers including excess electron-hole pairs; a second part, coupled to the first part, that includes a minority carrier barrier; and a third part, coupled to the second part, that includes a region that exhibits a low radiative recombination efficiency and a short minority carrier lifetime. In response to a first stimulus minority carriers are constrained by the second part to remain in the first part, leading to an increase of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and an increase in light emission; while in response to a second stimulus the minority carriers are enabled to cross the minority carrier barrier of the second part to enter the third part, leading to a decrease of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and a decrease in light emission.

Abstract: A light emitting device is constructed so as to provide a first part that includes a source of excess minority carriers including excess electron-hole pairs; a second part, coupled to the first part, that includes a minority carrier barrier; and a third part, coupled to the second part, that includes a region that exhibits a low radiative recombination efficiency and a short minority carrier lifetime. In response to a first stimulus minority carriers are constrained by the second part to remain in the first part, leading to an increase of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and an increase in light emission; while in response to a second stimulus the minority carriers are enabled to cross the minority carrier barrier of the second part to enter the third part, leading to a decrease of minority carrier radiative recombination in the first part and a decrease in light emission.