Abstract: A solar cell may including a quantum dot, an electron conductor and a bridge molecule disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bridge molecule may include a quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot and an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor. The quantum dot anchor may be an electron-rich anchor group that includes a Group 5A element. The solar cell may also include a hole conductor that is configured to reduce the quantum dot once the quantum dot absorbs a photon and ejects an electron through the bridge molecule and into the electron conductor.

Abstract: A solar cell including a quantum dot, an electron conductor, and a conjugated bridge molecule disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The conjugated bridge molecule may include a quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot and an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor. In some instances, the quantum dot anchor and/or the electron conductor anchor may independently include two anchoring moieties that can form ring structures with the quantum dot and/or the electron conductor. The solar cell may further include a hole conductor that is configured to reduce the quantum dot once the quantum dot absorbs a photon and ejects an electron through the conjugated bridge molecule and into the electron conductor.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device such as solar cell includes a substrate, a composite electron conductor layer adjacent to the substrate, an active layer coupled relative to the composite electron conductor layer, and an electrode electrically coupled to the active layer. In some embodiments, the composite electron conductor layer includes a mixture of different sized particles, such as a mixture of smaller nanoparticles along with larger ground up or otherwise processed nanopillar, nanowire, nanorod, nanotubes, inverse opal and/or any other suitable structured nanocomponents as desired. Methods for making such photovoltaic device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for the detection of and/or determination of a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some cases, the systems and methods employ techniques to reduce or limit the negative effects associated with non-specific binding events. Certain methods of the present invention involve associating the analyte molecules at least a first type of binding ligand and at least a second type of binding ligand, and spatially segregating the analyte molecules into a plurality of locations on a surface. The presence of an analyte molecule at or in a location may be determined by determining the presence of both the first type of binding ligand and the second type of binding ligand.

Abstract: A method of treating a semiconductor substrate has forming convex patterns over the semiconductor substrate by dry etching, cleaning and modifying a surface of the convex patterns by using chemical, forming a hydrophobic functional surface on the modified surface of the convex patterns, after forming the hydrophobic functional surface, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using water, drying the semiconductor substrate, and removing the hydrophobic functional group from the hydrophobic functional surface of the convex patterns.

Abstract: Disclosed are solar cells and methods for making solar cells. Also disclosed are counter electrodes for solar cells including dye-sensitized and/or nanocrystal-sensitized solar cells. An example counter electrode for a solar cell may include a substrate, a microstructured template disposed on the substrate, and a layer of catalytic material disposed on the microstructured template.

Abstract: Solar cells, methods for manufacturing a quantum dot layer for a solar cell, and methods for manufacturing solar cells are disclosed. An example method for manufacturing a quantum dot layer for a solar cell includes providing an electron conductor layer, providing a quantum dot chemical bath deposition solution, controlling the temperature of the quantum dot chemical bath deposition solution to a temperature of about 30° C. or greater, and immersing the electron conductor layer in the quantum dot chemical bath deposition solution for about 1-10 hours. The quantum dot chemical bath deposition solution may include CdSe.

Abstract: Quantum dot solar cells with enhanced efficiency are disclosed. An example solar cell includes an electron conductor layer, a quantum dot layer and a hole conductor layer. The electron conductor layer may include a plurality of nanoparticles having an average outer dimension that is greater than about 25 nanometers. The hole conductor layer may include an electrolytic salt, and/or a low surface tension solvent, as desired.

Abstract: Solar cells and methods for manufacturing solar cells are disclosed. An example solar cell may include a substrate, which in some cases may act as an electrode, a nano-pillar array coupled relative to the substrate, a self-assembled monolayer disposed on the nano-pillar array, an active layer provided on the self-assembled monolayer, and an electrode electrically coupled to the active layer. In some cases, the self-assembled monolayer may include alkanedithiol, and the active layer may include a photoactive polymer, but this is not required.

Abstract: A molecular imprinted three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (MiTOM) sensor for detecting small organic molecules and a method of forming the same. A target template associated with a number of pores can be formed by vertical deposition of organic polymer particles on a substrate. Active monomers can be added to a solution during an infiltration process of the target template. The monomers associated with ligands can be polymerized around the target template so that the ligands can be stereochemically fixed at precise binding sites associated with the target template. The target template can then be removed in order to form a MiTOM sensor electrode, which includes an inverse opal structure. Additionally, an inverse opal backbone structure can be formed and coated with the layer of target template and active monomers in order to form molecular imprinted active sites on the inverse opal backbone structure after a self-assembly and polymerization process.

Abstract: A three-dimensionally ordered macroporous sensor apparatus and method of forming the same. A direct opal film associated with a number of pores can be formed by vertical deposition of one or more nanospheres on a glass substrate. The thickness of the direct opal film can be controlled by concentration of the nanospheres. A mixture of a precursor/monomer of a sensing material and a complexing agent can be filled into the pores associated with the direct opal film, such that the mixture permeates the interstitial spaces between the pores. The nanospheres may then be removed in order to form a three dimensionally-ordered macroporous electrode with an inverse opal structure. Optionally, the sensing material can be coated on an inverse opal backbone structure formed from an external inactive material and utilizing a coating operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that promote the remediation of contaminated materials that are produced during industrial processes. These systems and methods include heating a material, transferring heat from the material to an industrial process. During this transfer, contaminants may be introduced into the material. These methods may remove the contaminant by treating the material with a surface modified nanoceramic through nanofiltration and/or active sites adsorption/reaction. The surface modified nanoceramic may remove at least part of the contaminant in the material. No cooling required prior to removing the contaminant from the material, which can lead to great energy saving and pollution reduction.

Abstract: A connector for attaching a cable to a terminal includes a connector body with a hex head fastener rotatably attached at one end of the body. A compressible gasket or clamp sleeve is positioned along the connector body for engaging and sealing about a portion of the jacket of the cable received within the connector.

Abstract: A RF resonator for sensing a physical or an environmental parameter includes a substrate having a substrate surface. A polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) element is positioned on or within the substrate surface. The RF resonator has a resonant frequency that changes as a function of the physical or environmental parameter. A system for wirelessly sensing at least one physical or environmental parameter includes at least one RF resonator and a wireless RF reader located remotely from the RF resonator for transmitting a wide-band RF interrogation signal that excites the RF resonator. The wireless RF reader detects a sensing signal retransmitted by the RF resonator and includes a processor for determining the physical or environmental parameter at the location of the RF resonator from the sensing signal.

Abstract: Solar cells and methods for manufacturing solar cells and/or components or layers thereof are disclosed. An example method for manufacturing a multi-bandgap quantum dot layer for use in a solar cell may include providing a first precursor compound, providing a second precursor compound, and combining a portion of the first precursor compound with a portion of the second precursor compound to form a multi-bandgap quantum dot layer that includes a plurality of quantum dots that differ in bandgap.

Abstract: Solar cells and methods for manufacturing solar cells are disclosed. An example solar cell may include a substrate, which in some cases may act as an electrode, a nano-pillar array coupled relative to the substrate, an active layer provided on the nano-pillar array, and an electrode electrically coupled to the active layer. In some cases, the active layer may include a photoactive polymer.

Abstract: Working electrodes, electrochemical sensors including a working electrode, and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. An example working electrode for an organophosphate sensor may include a titanium based porous layer that has a Three-Dimensionally Ordered Macro-Porous (3DOM) structure. The porous layer may be able to detect an organophosphate material having a nitrobenzene ring.

Abstract: A method of treating the surface of a semiconductor substrate has cleaning the semiconductor substrate having a pattern formed thereon by using a chemical solution, removing the chemical solution by using pure water, forming a water repellent protective film on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, rinsing the semiconductor substrate by using pure water, and drying the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells and methods for manufacturing photovoltaic cells. An example photovoltaic cell may include an electron conductor, a hole conductor and an active region situated therebetween. The electron conductor may include a nanowire array and a sheath disposed over the nanowire array. The nanowire array may include a material having an electron mobility that is greater than the electron mobility of the sheath. The sheath may have a density of states that is greater than the density of states of the nanowire array.

Abstract: Thin-film photovoltaic cells and methods for manufacturing thin-film photovoltaic cells. An example method for manufacturing a thin-film photovoltaic cell includes providing a substrate, forming an imprinted surface on the substrate, and depositing one or more thin-film photovoltaic layers on the imprinted surface. An example thin-film photovoltaic cell may include a substrate layer having an imprinted surface, with a one or more thin-film photovoltaic layers disposed on the imprinted surface. A filler layer may be provided on the thin-film photovoltaic layer.