Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions and methods for controlling zinc oxide particle size for sunscreen applications are provided herein. An example composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the zinc oxide particles is (i) coated with an optical coating material and (ii) of a size that is below a maximum threshold; and a medium layer within which the zinc oxide particles are suspended, wherein the medium layer comprises a mixture of one or more media, and wherein each of the media has a refractive index below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Aspects relate to a system and a method of operating an integrated device is provided. The method includes providing a circuit board that includes one or more on-board electronic components and an upper surface configured as a substrate, providing photovoltaic device layers that include at least a semi-conductor absorber layer, a buffer layer, and a top electrode layer on the upper surface of the circuit board that form a photovoltaic device using the upper surface of the circuit board as a photovoltaic device substrate, wherein the buffer layer is integrally deposited between the semi-conductor absorber layer and the top electrode, generating electricity using the photovoltaic device, and powering one or more of the on-board electronic components using the electricity from the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: Notch filter coatings for use in sunscreen applications are provided herein. An exemplary composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium forming sunscreen composition; and a combination of multiple notch filter coating materials individually applied as a distinct layer to each of the multiple zinc oxide particles to create a multi-layered structure surrounding each of the multiple zinc oxide particles within the sunscreen composition, wherein the multi-layered structure: reflects light at a user-determined wavelength range based on the wavelength range at which each of the multiple notch filter coating materials reflects light; and allows wavelengths of light (i) within at least a portion of the ultraviolet spectrum and (ii) outside of the user-determined wavelength range to be absorbed by the multiple zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions as well as techniques for plasmonic enhancement of absorption in sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles; and embedding the one or more selected metal particles into each of the one or more zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions and methods for applying anti-reflective coating on oxide particles for sunscreen applications are provided herein. A composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium forming sunscreen composition, and two or more coating materials applied to each of the multiple zinc oxide particles in distinct layers via a gradation based on refractive index, wherein each of the coating materials has a refractive index that is between the refractive index of air and the refractive index of zinc oxide.

Abstract: In one aspect, a spectrometer insert is provided. The spectrometer insert includes: an enclosed housing; a first transparent window on a first side of the enclosed housing; a second transparent window on a second side of the enclosed housing, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the enclosed housing; and a sample mounting and heating assembly positioned within an interior cavity of the enclosed housing in between, and in line of sight of, the first transparent window and the second transparent window. A method for using the spectrometer insert to locally heat a sample so as to measure temperature-dependent optical properties of the sample is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing organic materials in sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting a combination of multiple organic materials to incorporate into a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on (i) a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, (ii) the absorption spectrum of each of the multiple organic materials, and (iii) a particle size limitation for each of the multiple organic materials, and incorporating the selected combination of organic materials into the sunscreen composition to generate the desired absorption spectrum. A composition includes a combination of multiple organic materials incorporated into a sunscreen composition, wherein the combination of organic materials is selected based on (i) a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, (ii) the absorption spectrum of each of the multiple organic materials, and (iii) a particle size limitation for each of the multiple organic materials.

Abstract: Shell-structured particles for sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more particles to serve as a core material in a sunscreen composition, wherein each of the one or more particles comprises a band gap within a predetermined range, and wherein said selecting is based on a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition; coating the one or more particles with at least one layer of zinc oxide. A composition includes selecting one or more particles to serve as a coating layer in a sunscreen composition, wherein each of the one or more particles comprises a band gap within a predetermined range, and wherein said selecting is based on a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition; and coating one or more zinc oxide particles with the one or more selected particles.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions as well as techniques for plasmonic enhancement of absorption in sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles; and embedding the one or more selected metal particles into each of the one or more zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions and methods for embedding oxide particles in a separate suspension particle for sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes reducing the size of each of multiple zinc oxide particles in accordance with a predetermined range; selecting one or more suspension particles to be utilized in conjunction with the multiple zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein each of the one or more suspension particles is larger in size than each of the multiple zinc oxide particles, and wherein said selecting is based on the refractive index of each of the one or more suspension particles; and embedding the multiple zinc oxide particles into the one or more suspension particles to create the sunscreen composition.

Abstract: Monolithic tandem chalcopyrite-perovskite photovoltaic devices and techniques for formation thereof are provided. In one aspect, a tandem photovoltaic device is provided. The tandem photovoltaic device includes a substrate; a bottom solar cell on the substrate, the bottom solar cell having a first absorber layer that includes a chalcopyrite material; and a top solar cell monolithically integrated with the bottom solar cell, the top solar cell having a second absorber layer that includes a perovskite material. A monolithic tandem photovoltaic device and method of formation thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Oxide electron selective contacts for perovskite solar cells are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a perovskite solar cell is provided. The method includes the steps of: depositing a layer of a hole transporting material on a substrate; forming a perovskite absorber on the hole transporting material; depositing an oxide electron transporting material on the perovskite absorber; and forming a top electrode on the oxide electron transporting material. Perovskite solar cells and tandem photovoltaic devices are also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a spectrometer insert is provided. The spectrometer insert includes: an enclosed housing; a first transparent window on a first side of the enclosed housing; a second transparent window on a second side of the enclosed housing, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the enclosed housing; and a sample mounting and heating assembly positioned within an interior cavity of the enclosed housing in between, and in line of sight of, the first transparent window and the second transparent window. A method for using the spectrometer insert to locally heat a sample so as to measure temperature-dependent optical properties of the sample is also provided.

Abstract: Nitride-based nanoparticles for use in sunscreen applications provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more nitride-based nanoparticles to serve as a core material in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, and adjusting an amount of at least one element present within the nitride-based nanoparticles to achieve one or more user-defined optical characteristics with respect to the core material in the sunscreen composition. A composition includes one or more nitride-based nanoparticles constituting a core material in a sunscreen composition, wherein said nitride-based nanoparticles are selected based on a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, and wherein an amount of at least one element present within the nitride-based nanoparticles is adjustable to achieve one or more user-defined optical characteristics.

Abstract: Sunscreen additives for enhancing vitamin D production are provided herein. A method includes selecting phosphor materials to incorporate into zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range. The method also includes incorporating the selected phosphor materials into the zinc oxide particles. A composition includes zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium of a sunscreen composition, and phosphor materials incorporated into the zinc oxide particles, wherein the phosphor materials are capable of carrying out an up-conversion process whereby two or more photons absorbed by the zinc oxide particles and/or the phosphor materials within a first wavelength range are emitted as at least one photon within a second wavelength range.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing organic materials in sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting a combination of multiple organic materials to incorporate into a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on (i) a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, (ii) the absorption spectrum of each of the multiple organic materials, and (iii) a particle size limitation for each of the multiple organic materials, and incorporating the selected combination of organic materials into the sunscreen composition to generate the desired absorption spectrum. A composition includes a combination of multiple organic materials incorporated into a sunscreen composition, wherein the combination of organic materials is selected based on (i) a desired absorption spectrum of the sunscreen composition, (ii) the absorption spectrum of each of the multiple organic materials, and (iii) a particle size limitation for each of the multiple organic materials.

Abstract: Notch filter coatings for use in sunscreen applications are provided herein. An exemplary composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium forming sunscreen composition; and a combination of multiple notch filter coating materials individually applied as a distinct layer to each of the multiple zinc oxide particles to create a multi-layered structure surrounding each of the multiple zinc oxide particles within the sunscreen composition, wherein the multi-layered structure: reflects light at a user-determined wavelength range based on the wavelength range at which each of the multiple notch filter coating materials reflects light; and allows wavelengths of light (i) within at least a portion of the ultraviolet spectrum and (ii) outside of the user-determined wavelength range to be absorbed by the multiple zinc oxide particles.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions and methods for applying anti-reflective coating on oxide particles for sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more coating materials to be applied to zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on optical properties of the coating materials, wherein the optical properties comprises at least the refractive index of each of the coating materials, and applying the selected coating materials to the zinc oxide particles to create the sunscreen composition. A composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium forming sunscreen composition, and one or more coating materials applied to each of the zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the coating materials has a refractive index that is between the refractive index of air and the refractive index of zinc oxide, and wherein at least one of the coating materials incorporates a textured surface.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions as well as techniques for plasmonic enhancement of zinc oxide light absorption for sunscreen applications are provided herein. One example method includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles, and blending the metal particles and the zinc oxide particles within a medium to create the sunscreen composition.

Abstract: Zinc oxide compositions as well as techniques for doping ZnO particles for sunscreen applications are provided herein. A method includes selecting one or more dopants to be incorporated into one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein the one or more dopants comprise chromium, cobalt, gallium, and/or tin, and wherein said selecting is based on one or more optical properties associated with each of the dopants, and incorporating the selected dopants into the zinc oxide particles to create the sunscreen composition. A composition includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium forming sunscreen composition, and one or more dopants incorporated into each of the multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein the one or more dopants comprise chromium, cobalt, gallium, and/or tin, and wherein each of the dopants imparts one or more optical properties to the zinc oxide particle within which the dopant is incorporated.