Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photovoltaic device, whereby a photovoltaic device of a large area in the laminated structure of a first resin layer with light- transmitting property, a photo-electric converting element consisting of a transparent electrode layer, a thin-film semiconductor layer and a back electrode layer, and a second resin layer in this order is mechanically cut into an optional size, which is followed by a step wherein the first and second resin layers of the cut photovoltaic device of a smaller area are thermally treated or at least one of the transparent electrode layer and back electrode layer at the section is etched and removed. Because of the above treatment for the cut photovoltaic device of a smaller area, an electric short circuit between the transparent electrode layer and back electrode layer at the section is prevented.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device includes the steps of: preparing a plurality of photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion and a second electrode stacked in this order on a supporting substrate; electrically connecting the photovoltaic elements with each other; attaching a common protection film onto the second electrodes of the photovoltaic elements; and removing the supporting substrate from the photovoltaic elements, wherein the protection film mechanically couples the plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic device comprises a first transparent, insulating, and flexible resin layer; a transparent electrode formed on the first resin layer; a flexible resin type locking member formed having satisfactory adherence along the inner periphery of the transparent electrode; a semiconductor layer formed to cover the transparent electrode and the locking member for photoelectric conversion; a back electrode formed on the semiconductor layer; and a second insulating and flexible resin layer formed on the back electrode.

Abstract: In an immersion nozzle for continuous casting, at least one portion of reduced a sectional area of passage for molten metal is formed near to the bottom of the nozzle and plural discharge ports symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the nozzle are arranged above and below the reduced sectional area portion in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle. Further, molten metal is continuously cast by using the above immersion nozzle together with a static magnetic field.

Abstract: A color sensor produced in accordance with the present invention comprises a colorless and transparent substrate; at least one color filter disposed on a main surface of the substrate; a colorless and transparent front electrode layer of transparent conductive oxides (TCO) formed on the opposite main surface of the substrate, corresponding to each of the filters; a semiconductor layer formed on the front electrode layer, wherein the interface between the front electrode layer and semiconductor layer is roughened to have a periodic unevenness thereby to decrease the reflectance of visible incident light at the interface; and a back electrode layer formed on the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate on which a plurality of transparent electrodes for each photoelectric conversion cell are arranged. On each transparent electrode, a coupling conductor and a plurality of collecting electrodes connected to the coupling conductor are formed. On the substrate, an insulator layer is further formed, which includes a first portion extending in parallel with the coupling conductor and second portions covering the collecting conductors. A semiconductor photo-active layer and a back electrode are formed in this order so as to cover the respective components previously formed. By irradiating a laser beam onto the respective first portions above the back electrodes, the irradiated part of the back electrode and the semiconductor photo-active layer thereunder are separated into the respective photoelectric conversion cells.

Abstract: A method for processing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of: uniformly depositing the TCO layer on a substantially flat surface of a transparent substrate; and etching the exposed surface of the TCO layer thereof to roughen the exposed surface. The so-treated TCO layer is used as a transparent electrode in photovoltaic devices and has a decreased, substantially constant reflectance throughout the visible light range.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprises a glass substrate, and on a surface of the glass substrate, a plurality of transparent electrodes which define each photoelectric conversion cell are arranged at intervals. At one end of each transparent electrode in the direction of width thereof, a conductor and an insulator are formed so as to extend in parallel in the direction of length of the photoelectric conversion cell with a spacing maintained inbetween, for example, by means of screen printing. On the surface of the glass substrate, a semiconductor photo-active layer composed of amorphous silicon is formed so as to cover the transparent electrode and the conductor and the insulator stripes formed thereon. On the semiconductor photo-active layer, a back electrode composed of aluminum is formed. By irradiating a laser beam onto the insulator from the back electrode side, the irradiated part of the back electrode and the semiconductor photo-active layer thereunder are separated at each photoelectric conversion cell.

Abstract: In a stacked structure for forming a molten carbonate fuel cell according to the present invention, a plurality of unit cells are stacked, and separator elements are respectively interposed between the adjacent unit cells. First and second internal manifolds extend in the stacking direction, at both sides of the stacked structure. Third internal manifold extends at the center of the structure, in the direction of stacking. First fuel gas passages, communicating with the first and third internal manifolds, are formed at the anode side of the separator element. Second fuel gas passages, communicating with the second and third internal manifolds, are formed at the anode side of the separator element. Thus, the fuel gas flows through the first internal manifold, the first fuel gas passages and the third internal manifold, and the fuel gas flows through the second internal manifold, the second fuel gas passages and the third internal manifold.

Abstract: In a molten carbonate fuel cell wherein a cathode and an anode of porous material formed in contact with an electrolyte layer, each of the cathode and anode comprises a bilayered structure having a first porous layer located at the side of the electrolyte layer and a second porous layer at the side of an element for supplying a fuel (or oxidant) gas and consisting of a sintered layer of a fibrous material. Pores in at least a portion of the first porous layer, which is adjacent to the electrolyte layer, have a size allowing capillary action of a molten carbonate, and pores of the second porous layer have a size not allowing capillary action.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a plurality of stacked unit cells, each consisting of a pair of gas diffusion electrodes with a matrix containing an electrolyte solution interposed between them, with an interconnector having a fuel gas passage on one surface and an oxidizing gas agent passage on the other surface interposed between each pair of adjacent unit cells. One out of every three to five interconnectors is a one-piece-molded product which has at least one cooling pipe embedded in it and which provides an excellent cooling effect. The fuel cell stack stably provides a high output voltage over a long period of operation time.

Abstract: A method for forming a coating of an oxide on a support by the reactive sputtering technique, which comprises measuring the intensity of at least one spectral component having a given wavelength of the spectrum of a plasma formed between the support and a target composed of an oxidizable substance convertible to said oxide, comparing the measured intensity of the spectral component with the standard intensity of a spectral component of the same wavelength, and continuously or intermittently varying the physical amount of a sputtering gas and/or the amount of an electric current from a sputtering power supply so that the measured intensity of the former spectral component approaches the standard intensity of the latter spectral component; and a sputtering apparatus for performing the aforesaid method, which comprises a vacuum chamber, a target electrode disposed within the vacuum chamber, means for introducing a sputtering gas into the vacuum chamber, means for discharging the sputtering gas from the vacuum ch

Abstract: Provided is a nickel-zinc storage battery prepared, preferably, by winding into a whirlpool a sheet-like zinc electrode, a sheet-like nickel electrode and a separator with the separator interposed between the zinc and nickel electrodes, said zinc electrode being obtained by bonding under pressure to a collector a mixture sheet consisting of zinc oxide, zinc, bismuth oxide, calcium hydroxide and fluoroplastic, said nickel electrode being obtained by bonding under pressure an oxide of nickel to a collector together with a conductive material, said separator being obtained by coating on an alkali-resisting nonwoven fabric a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and at least either of one selected from the group consisting of boric acids and metal oxides having low solubility to alkali solution and drying the nonwoven fabric thus coated.