Abstract: Described herein are synthesis schemes and methods for producing silicon based nanostructures and materials, including compositions and methods for synthesis of silicon-based nanowires and composites from three-component and four-component liquid silane/polymer inks. Materials and methods for producing silicon based micro and nanofibers that can be used in a variety of applications including material composites, electronic devices, sensors, photodetectors, batteries, ultracapacitors, and photosensitive substrates, and the like.

Abstract: Described herein are synthesis schemes and methods for producing silicon based nanostructures and materials, including compositions and methods for synthesis of silicon-based nanowires and composites from four-component inks of a liquid silane, a polymer, an accelerant and a solvent, or from five-component inks of a liquid silane, a polymer, an accelerant, a solid phase and a solvent. The methods can be used for producing silicon based microfibers and nanofibers that can be used in a variety of applications including material composites, electronic devices, sensors, photodetectors, batteries, ultracapacitors, and photosensitive substrates.

Abstract: Described herein are synthesis schemes and methods for producing silicon based nanostructures and materials, including compositions and methods for synthesis of silicon-based nanowires and composites from three-component and four-component liquid silane/polymer inks. Materials and methods for producing silicon based micro and nanofibers that can be used in a variety of applications including material composites, electronic devices, sensors, photodetectors, batteries, ultracapacitors, and photosensitive substrates, and the like.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed, including a light collector having a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of light redirecting features that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes half-cylinder shaped lenses that can focus light incident at various angles onto an elongate v-groove in the light guide such that a first portion of the incident light is diverted to one or more PV cells and a second portion of the incident light is transmitted through the light collector to provide illumination.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes a micro-lens array having a plurality of micro-lens that focus incident light onto a light guide including a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure. Each of the plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure is configured to divert the focused light towards one or more photovoltaic cells disposed along the edge of the light guide. Each multi-cone light redirecting structure includes a central cone shaped structure surrounded by several secondary cone-shaped structures.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the plurality of micro-lens is provided in an organic glass panel that is attached to an inorganic glass substrate. The inorganic glass substrate includes a material that is substantially opaque to radiation in the ultraviolet spectral range. During use, the light collector is disposed such that the inorganic glass substrate is exposed to the exterior to prevent a portion of the ultraviolet radiation incident on the light collector from being transmitted to the organic glass panel.

Abstract: A photovoltaic solar panel includes a front glass, a back glass, and a photovoltaic (PV) power generating layer encapsulated between the front glass and the back glass. The PV power generating layer is configured to convert ambient electromagnetic energy, received through the front glass, to a direct current (DC) power output. The PV solar panel also includes at least one component, disposed behind the PV power generating layer, selected from the group consisting of: a direct current to alternating current (DC-AC) inverter configured to convert the DC power output from the PV power generator to an alternating current (AC) power output, a battery, and an antenna.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a wedge shaped light guide having an inclined light receiving surface that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface. Additionally, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a microstructured light collector that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a method of forming a photovoltaic device includes forming a plurality of substrate features on a surface of a glass substrate, the substrate features having a depth dimension in the range of about 10 ?m to about 1000 ?m and a width dimension in the range of about 10 ?m to about 1000 ?m. The method further includes forming a thin film solar cell over the surface of the glass substrate including over the plurality of substrate features.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photovoltaic modules and methods of making the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic devices configured to absorb light and generate electrical power and a plurality of conductors disposed over the photovoltaic devices. The photovoltaic module further includes a glass layer disposed over the photovoltaic devices, and the glass layer includes a textured surface opposite the plurality of photovoltaic devices. The textured surface includes features configured to diffract light incident the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module further includes a diffusive layer disposed over at least a portion of the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for directing light incident on a window towards photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, photovoltaic cells are arranged the perimeter of a window pane. The pane also includes light-turning features that divert a portion of the incident light towards the photovoltaic cells on the perimeter, while simultaneously transmitting a portion of incident light through the pane. The dimensions and arrangement of the light-turning features can be adjusted to change the amount of light diverted to the photovoltaic cells, and consequently the amount of light transmitted through the glass.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes multi-functional windows. Functions of the multi-functional windows described herein can include transmitting incident light, generating photovoltaic power from incident light, and emitting light. In some implementations, a multi-functional window may be placed in a photovoltaic state, a lighting state, or a neutral state. A multi-functional window can continue to function as a normal window in transmitting a portion of any incident light in any of the photovoltaic, lighting, and neutral states. A multi-functional window can be implemented in a building or automobile.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic device includes an anode contact structure, a cathode contact structure, and an inorganic solar cell disposed between the anode and cathode contact structures. The inorganic solar cell includes a p-type photovoltaic layer, an n-type photovoltaic layer, and one or more minority carrier blocking layers for improving the efficiency of the solar cell by preventing minority carriers within the solar cell from reaching interface recombination surfaces associated with the anode and cathode contact structures.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic device includes a transparent insulator, a first thin film solar subcell disposed on a first surface of the transparent insulator, and a second thin film solar subcell disposed on a second surface of the transparent insulator opposite the first surface. The first solar subcell is configured to receive ambient light, and the second solar subcell is configured to receive a portion of light that propagates through the first solar subcell. The second solar subcell includes a first electrode including a conductive reflective layer configured to reflect light that propagates through a photovoltaic structure of the second subcell back toward the first solar subcell.

Abstract: This disclosure provides substrate stacks for use in photovoltaic cells and methods of manufacturing the same. In one aspect, a substrate stack can include a substrate layer having at least one surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm. The substrate stack can also include a transparent conductive oxide layer disposed over the substrate layer. The transparent conductive oxide layer can include at least a first surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm and a second surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm. The RMS roughness value of the second surface can be greater than the RMS value of the first surface.

Abstract: A new transparent-charge-injection-layer consisting of LiF/Al/Al-doped-SiO has been developed as (i) a cathode for top emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) and as (ii) a buffer layer against damages induced by energetic ions generated during deposition of other functional thin films by sputtering, or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A luminance of 1900 cd/m2 and a current efficiency of 4 cd/A have been achieved in a simple testing device structure of ITO/TPD (60 nm)/Alq3 (40 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)Al (3 nm)/Al-doped-SiO (30 nm). A thickness of 30 nm of Al-doped SiO is also found to protect organic layers from ITO sputtering damage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a layered metal/fullerene anode structure for efficient hole injection. The layered anode structure includes one or more layers of electrical conductors and a second layer containing fullerenes. The thickness of the second layer is selected so that the layered structure facilitate hole transfer from the layer to second layer under electrical bias. The present invention also provides a light-emitting device which includes a layered metal/fullerene anode. The device includes an hole transport layer, and a second electrically conductive layer defining a cathode electrode layer. The device includes a layer of light-emissive material between the hole transport layer and the cathode electrode. The device may also include a hole injection layer interposed between the layered metal/fullerene anode and the hole transport layer. The device may also include a dielectric layer attached to the metal layer of the layered metal/fullerene anode.