Abstract: An electronic device module comprises: A. At least one electronic device, e.g., a solar cell, and B. A polymeric material in intimate contact with at least one surface of the electronic device, the polymeric material comprising an ethylene multi-block copolymer. Typically, the polyolefin material is an ethylene multi-block copolymer with a density of less than about 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc). The polymeric material can fully encapsulate the electronic device, or it can be laminated to one face surface of the device. Optionally, the polymeric material can further comprise a scorch inhibitor, and the copolymer can remain uncrosslinked or it can be crosslinked.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer fiber with a sulfonating agent that is fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or a combination thereof; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the heated solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000° C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymeric compositions with improved electrical breakdown strength. The polymeric compositions contain a poly-?-olefin and a voltage-stabilizing agent, which comprises an organic carboxylic ester comprising at least one aromatic ring and from 1 to 2 carboxylic alkyl ester substituents. Alternatively, the voltage-stabilizing agent can comprise trioctyl trimellitate. The present polymeric compositions exhibit improved electrical breakdown strength when applied as an insulating and/or shielding layer for power cables.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 gas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C.

Abstract: Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 dissolved in a solvent to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An electronic device module comprises: A. At least one electronic device, e.g., a solar cell, and B. A polymeric material in intimate contact with at least one surface of the electronic device, the polymeric material comprising an ethylene multi-block copolymer. Typically, the polyolefin material is an ethylene multi-block copolymer with a density of less than about 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc). The polymeric material can fully encapsulate the electronic device, or it can be laminated to one face surface of the device. Optionally, the polymeric material can further comprise a scorch inhibitor, and the copolymer can remain uncrosslinked or it can be crosslinked.

Abstract: Disclosed here are processes for preparing carbonized polymers (preferably carbon fibers), comprising sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 dissolved in a solvent to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C. Carbon fibers made according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbonized polymers, such as carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer with a sulfonating agent that comprises SO3 gas to form a sulfonated polymer; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of said solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 500-3000° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for preparing carbon fibers, comprising: sulfonating a polymer fiber with a sulfonating agent that is fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or a combination thereof; treating the sulfonated polymer with a heated solvent, wherein the temperature of the heated solvent is at least 95° C.; and carbonizing the resulting product by heating it to a temperature of 501-3000° C. Carbon fibers prepared according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An electronic device module comprising: A. At least one electronic device, e.g., a solar cell, and B. A polymeric material in intimate contact with at least one surface of the electronic device, the polymeric material comprising (1) a polyolefin copolymer with at least one of (a) a density of less than about 0.90 g/cc, (b) a 2% secant modulus of less than about 150 megaPascal (mPa) as measured by ASTM D-882-02), (c) a melt point of less than about 95 C, (d) an ?-olefin content of at least about 15 and less than about 50 wt % based on the weight of the polymer, (e) a Tg of less than about ?35 C, and (f) a SCBDI of at least about 50, (2) optionally, free radical initiator, e.g., a peroxide or azo compound, or a photoinitiator, e.g., benzophenone, and (3) optionally, a co-agent. Typically, the polyolefin copolymer is an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer. Optionally, the polymeric material can further comprise a vinyl silane and/or a scorch inhibitor, and the copolymer can remain uncrosslinked or be crosslinked.

Abstract: An electronic device module comprising: A. At least one electronic device, e.g., a solar cell, and B. A polymeric material in intimate contact with at least one surface of the electronic device, the polymeric material comprising (1) a polyolefin copolymer with at least one of (a) a density of less than about 0.90 g/cc, (b) a 2% secant modulus of less than about 150 megaPascal (mPa) as measured by ASTM D-882-02), (c) a melt point of less than about 95 C, (d) an ?-olefin content of at least about 15 and less than about 50 wt % based on the weight of the polymer, (e) a Tg of less than about ?35 C, and (f) a SCBDI of at least about 50, (2) optionally, free radical initiator, e.g., a peroxide or azo compound, or a photoinitiator, e.g., benzophenone, and (3) optionally, a co-agent. Typically, the polyolefin copolymer is an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer. Optionally, the polymeric material can further comprise a vinyl silane and/or a scorch inhibitor, and the copolymer can remain uncrosslinked or be crosslinked.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an article comprising a photovoltaic device structure and a barrier layer comprising mica on the photovoltaic device structure. The barrier layer is flexible and light transmissive.

Abstract: A multi junction photovoltaic device is disclosed. In certain examples, the device includes an upper photovoltaic cell comprising a first plurality of layers of films, including a first active layer of a chalcogenide having a first lattice constant and first energy band gap, and a lower photovoltaic cell disposed below the upper photovoltaic cell and adapted to receive photon radiation passing through the upper photovoltaic cell, and comprising a second plurality of layers of films, including an active second layer of a IB-IIIA-chalcogenide having a second lattice constant and a second energy band gap. The first lattice constant differs from the second lattice constant by no more than about 10%. The first energy band gap can be greater than the second energy band gap by at least about 0.5 eV, or 0.6 eV, or 0.7 eV.

Abstract: Chalcogenide based photovoltaic devices cells with good resistance to environmental elements can be formed by direct low temperature deposition of inorganic barrier layers onto the film. A unique multilayer barrier can be formed in a single step when reactive sputtering of the silicon nitride onto an inorganic oxide top layer of the PV device.

Abstract: A device useful for oral drug delivery device consisting of: (a) a capsule, tablet or pill designed to disperse in the gastrointestinal system; (b) an RFID tag positioned in the capsule, tablet or pill, the RFID tag comprising an antenna; (c) an object selected from the group consisting of a magnet, a ferromagnetic object, a ferrite object and an electromagnetic shielding object positioned within, over or adjacent the antenna of the RFID tag to alter the antenna characteristics of the RFID tag so that if the RFID tag is interrogated before the capsule, tablet or pill disperses in the gastrointestinal system, the response of the RFID tag is sufficiently altered or attenuated to determine that the capsule, tablet or pill has not dispersed in the gastrointestinal system and so that if the RFID tag is interrogated after the capsule, tablet or pill has dispersed in the gastrointestinal system, the object separates from the RFID tag so that the response of the RFID tag is sufficiently detectable to determine that t

Abstract: An electronic device module comprises: A. At least one electronic device, e.g., a solar cell, and B. A polymeric material in intimate contact with at least one surface of the electronic device, the polymeric material comprising an ethylene multi-block copolymer. Typically, the polyolefin material is an ethylene multi-block copolymer with a density of less than about 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc). The polymeric material can fully encapsulate the electronic device, or it can be laminated to one face surface of the device. Optionally, the polymeric material can further comprise a scorch inhibitor, and the copolymer can remain uncrosslinked or it can be crosslinked.

Abstract: A polymer comprising repeat units of the formula: wherein R1 is independently in each occurrence C1-20 hydrocarbyl or C1-20 hydrocarbyl containing one or more heteroatoms of S, N, O, P or Si or both R1 may form, with the 9-carbon of the fluorene ring, a C5-20 ring structure containing one or more heteroatoms of S, N, or O; R2 is independently in each occurrence C1-20 hydrocarbyl, C1-20 hydrocarbyloxy, C1-20 thioether, C1-20 hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy, or cyano; a is independently in each occurrence a number from about 0 to about 1; m is a number from about 1 to about 2; and n is a number from about 3 or greater.

Abstract: An organic block polymer useful in an electroluminescent polymer device (or in a polymer field effect transistor) that includes an emissive polymer block that is consistently conjugated along the backbone of the emissive polymer block (e.g., a copolymer of 2,7-linked 9,9 dioctyl fluorene and 4,7-linked 2,1,3 benxothiadiazole); and a positive charge carrier polymer block that is consistently conjugated along the backbone of the positive charge carrier polymer block (e.g., a copolymer of 2,7-linked 9,9 dioctyl fluorene and 4N, 4N′-linked N,N′-di(3-carboxomethoxyphenyl)benzidine) for transporting positive charge carriers to the emissive polymer block so that the positive charge carriers can combine with negative charge carriers to generate light.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a composite comprising stabilized conductive nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix. The dielectric constant of the composites is advantageously high, exceeding that predicted by the rule of mixtures. The subject invention further provides a film comprising such composites. Such films will enjoy applicability in electronics applications. The subject invention additionally provides a thin film organic transistor comprising the inventive composite. The subject invention further provides processes for stabilizing conductive nanoparticles.

Abstract: A polymer comprising repeat units of the formula: 1