Photoelectric Patents (Class 427/74)
  • Patent number: 8541048
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 1 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman
  • Publication number: 20130243939
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a solar module comprising one or more solar cell(s) encapsulated in a polymer matrix, wherein the process comprises applying a matrix composition to one or more solar cell(s) such that the one or more solar cell(s) is/are surrounded by a continuous layer of matrix composition and polymerizing the matrix composition in order to form a polymer matrix encapsulating the one or more solar cell(s), wherein the matrix composition is a structurally viscous liquid which comprises a polymerizable compound for forming the matrix and has a yield point, and to the thus obtainable solar modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Hahn, Matthias Georgi
  • Publication number: 20130236823
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a charge-transporting layer which is a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the charge-transporting layer has a matrix-domain structure having: a matrix comprising a component ? and a component ?, and a domain comprising a component ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori Noguchi, Takashi Anezaki, Kazuhisa Shida, Atsushi Okuda, Shio Murai, Harunobu Ogaki
  • Publication number: 20130228214
    Abstract: A conducting substrate made of a nickel coating on paper that can be used in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC or DSC). Zinc oxide is the preferred wide-band semiconductor deposited as a nanoparticle layer on the nickel-coated paper to form a photoanode once a dye is deposited on the nanoparticles. A method of constructing the nickel-coated paper substrate is also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: MIAMI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lei L. Kerr, Bo Wang
  • Patent number: 8519262
    Abstract: Core shell particles and bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices using the core shell particles are described. In particular, core shell particles having a core particle and a shell of a second material and bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices using the core-shell particles are described. The core-shell particles can have a core particle with an electron donating material or a core particle with an electron donating material. Formation of a hulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic device using such an core-shell particles forming an interpenetrating network with the an electron donating or electron accepting phase is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nano-C, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Sivarajan, Henning Richter, Angela Herring, Thomas A. Lada, Viktor Vejins
  • Patent number: 8519259
    Abstract: The invention provides an electronic device housing with solar paint and a manufacturing method thereof. Solar-powered paint layers are transferred onto the housing by the IMD technology. Therefore, the housing of the electronic device can generate electric energy via solar power to prolong the operation time of the electronic device and achieve environmental protection and energy conservation effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Tzu-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 8507029
    Abstract: A protective backing sheet for photovoltaic modules is provided. The backing sheet has a layer including fluoropolymer which is cured on a substrate, and the layer includes boron nitride. The amount of boron nitride contained in the layer is within the range of 2 to 30.0% by weight, and preferably in the range of 5 to 10%. Also, the layer including fluoropolymer may further include a titanium dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Madico, Inc.
    Inventors: Marina Temchenko, David William Avison, Frank Anthony Mannarino, Samuel Lim
  • Publication number: 20130202243
    Abstract: An electro-optic device 200 comprising a substrate in which first and second waveguides 202, 203 are formed. The device also comprises first and second electrodes 204, 205 comprising an optically transparent conductive material and including primary portions 204a, 205a overlying the first and second waveguides 202, 203 for electrically biasing the first and second waveguides. The device is configured such that one of the first and second electrodes includes one other portion 204b, 205b arranged alongside the primary portion 204a, 205a of the other of the first and second electrodes. This arrangement improves the electro-optic efficiency of the device without the need for a buffer layer in the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: OCLARO TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Stefano Balsamo, Marco Villa, Michele Belmonte
  • Publication number: 20130181171
    Abstract: Protein scaffolds from tobacco mosaic virus coat protein modified to incorporate polyhistidine can bind to a metal or a dye while having improved self-assembly characteristics. The scaffold can take the form of tubes or disks, and can further be formed into dual plasmonic ring resonators. Such self-assembled structures provide useful optical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Banahalli R. Ratna, Amy S. Blum, Carissa M. Soto, Michael A. Bruckman, Jinny Lin Liu, Ronald W. Rendell, James Peter Long, Ronald J. Tonucci
  • Patent number: 8481104
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of fabricating an organic electronic device, which includes dip coating layers, and the devices made therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Gordana Srdanov, Gang Yu
  • Publication number: 20130167922
    Abstract: A conducting polymer-carbon material combined counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell comprises a conducting substrate (3), and a carbon material (1) and a conducting polymer (2) coated on the conducting substrate (3). A method for manufacturing the conducting polymer-carbon material combined counter electrode comprises steps: mixing the carbon material (1) with the conducting polymer (2) into a uniform suspension, cleaning and surface processing the conducting substrate (3), coating the suspension on the conducting substrate (3) and drying, to obtain the combined counter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Mingjie Zhou, Ping Wang, Hui Huang, Jixing Chen
  • Publication number: 20130167928
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a solar cell encapsulant sheet which makes it possible to suitably produce flexible solar cell modules in which the solar cell encapsulant sheet is well adhered to a solar cell element by encapsulating a solar cell element by roll-to-roll processing in a continuous manner without the need to perform a crosslinking process and without causing wrinkles and curls. The present invention provides a solar cell encapsulant sheet including a fluoropolymer sheet and an adhesive layer that includes a maleic anhydride-modified olefin resin on the fluoropolymer sheet, the maleic anhydride-modified olefin resin being a resin in which an ?-olefin-ethylene copolymer that includes 1 to 25% by weight of ?-olefin units is graft-modified with maleic anhydride, and a total amount of maleic anhydride being 0.1 to 3% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hiraike, Kiyomi Uenomachi, Masahiro Asuka, Jiamo Guo, Takahiro Nomura, Takahiko Sawada, Masahiro Ishii
  • Publication number: 20130167913
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing anode material, and the steps are as follows: TiO2 and NaOH are in the hydrothermal reaction to generate a fibered precursor; acid pickling the fibered precursor to generate a fibered sodium hydroxo titanate (H2Ti3O7.5H2O); disposing the fibered sodium hydroxo titanate on a membrane to dry, and thus to generate a flexible sodium hydroxo titanate membrane; and the flexible sodium hydroxotitanate membrane is reacted with NH3 flow to generate a titanium oxynitride membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Young LEE, Hsiao-Ping Liu, Hsin-Tien Chiu, Yen-Ju Wei
  • Publication number: 20130170016
    Abstract: A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure, in which one or more chromophore-doped polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and one or more electrode layers (104). The layered structure can also be interposed between a plurality of substrates (102). In some embodiments, the device (100) exhibits a decreased decay time when applying the biased voltage. Concurrently, the device (100) of the present disclosure utilizes approximately half the bias voltage, advantageously resulting in a longer device life time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wan-Yun Hsieh, Weiping Lin, Tao Gu, Peng Wang, Michiharu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8475892
    Abstract: A transfer film includes a substrate, a decorative layer, and an adhering layer. The decorative layer is positioned by solidifying ultraviolet curing ink on the substrate. The adhering layer is positioned on the decorative layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Lin, Pai-Sheng Wei
  • Publication number: 20130162726
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of an electromechanical transducing device includes forming a vibration plate on a substrate; forming a first electrode made of a metal on the vibration plate; forming a second electrode made of an electrically conductive oxide on the first electrode; coating a surface modification material and carrying out surface modification of only the first electrode; forming an electromechanical transducing film on the second electrode; and forming a third electrode made of an electrically conductive oxide on the electromechanical transducing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizukami, Yoshikazu Akiyama, Masaru Shinkai, Osamu Machida
  • Patent number: 8465794
    Abstract: An objective of this present invention is to provide a conductive paste that could obtain good electrical property, for example series resistance in an electrode. An aspect of the present invention relates to a conductive paste which comprises electrically conductive powder; glass frit which comprises, based on weight percent (wt %) of the glass frit, 8-26 wt % of SiO2, 0.1-5 wt % of Al2O3, and 73-90 wt % of lead compound, wherein lead fluoride is contained in the range of 5-28 wt % based on the total weight of the lead compound; and organic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Takuya Konno, Hisashi Matsuno, Brian J. Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20130139880
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode substrate that has a transparent conductive layer, a current-collecting metal layer that is provided on the transparent conductive layer, and an insulating layer that covers the current-collecting metal layer on a base plate, wherein, when a thermal expansion coefficient of the base plate is defined as ?, and a thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating layer is defined as ?, ?>? is satisfied, and in which the thickness of the transparent conductive layer is 0.05 to 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: FUJIKURA LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130139878
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for forming a solar cell including forming a layer comprising alumina on a substrate and forming a transparent conductive layer on the layer comprising alumina. The method may also include forming a transparent conductive seed layer on the layer comprising alumina and forming a transparent conductive bulk layer on the transparent conductive seed layer. Embodiments of the invention also include photovoltaic devices having a substrate, a layer comprising alumina adjacent to the substrate, a zinc oxide-containing transparent conductive seed layer adjacent to the layer comprising alumina, and a zinc oxide-containing transparent conductive bulk layer adjacent the zinc oxide-containing transparent conductive seed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Yashraj K. Bhatnagar, Brenden McComb, Xiao Ming, Deepak Jadhav, Anantha K. Subramani, Wei D. Wang, Jianshe Tang
  • Publication number: 20130125979
    Abstract: Providing a dye-sensitized solar cell having high durability and thermal resistance, and preventing elution of a platinum group catalyst from a catalytic electrode: by surface-treating the catalytic electrode with (a) a specific sulfur material having a molecular weight of 32 to 10,000 containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of -2 to 0, (b) another specific sulfur material containing no sulfur atom having an oxidation number of -2 to 0, but containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of +1 to +4 [with the proviso that the sulfur material (b) is such a material that a surface of the surface-treated catalyst electrode has a photoelectron peak within a binding energy range of 161 to 165 eV in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum], or (c) a mixture of the sulfur materials (a) and (b); and/or by adding the sulfur material into the electrolyte layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANE PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT
    Inventors: Naoto Imawaka, Kazuhiko Matsubayashi
  • Publication number: 20130129915
    Abstract: A coating nozzle includes a nozzle body including an inlet opening for receiving a liquid supplied from a liquid supply valve and an outlet opening, a distribution plate disposed adjacent to the nozzle body and including an elongated bore in fluid communication with the outlet opening, a shim plate disposed adjacent to the distribution plate and including a shim plate cutout communicating with the elongated bore of the distribution plate, and a baffle plate disposed adjacent to the shim plate. At least a portion of the shim plate cutout is located between the first elongated bore and the baffle plate so as to define a multi-face dispensing slot for dispensing the liquid onto at least two faces of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: NORDSON CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130130003
    Abstract: Provided is a back sheet for a solar cell module that includes: a polyester film layer having a easy-adhesive acryl coating layer formed on either or both sides thereof through in-line coating, and a fluorine coating layer prepared by applying a fluorine coating composition containing titanium dioxide as well as a fluoride resin selected from polyvinylidene fluoride or tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride, to a top side of the acryl coating layer. The back sheet for a solar cell module described in the disclosure may be produced by a simple process, and as a result, reduces production costs while exhibiting excellent adhesiveness to a sealing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Suk Won Choi, Sang-Hyun Baek
  • Publication number: 20130126700
    Abstract: A photodetector includes a substrate, a graphene layer disposed on the substrate, a first electrode disposed on the graphene layer, and a second electrode disposed on the graphene layer, where the first and second electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and where each of the first and second electrodes comprises a complex transparent electrode. The complex transparent electrode of the first electrode may have a different composition from the complex transparent electrode of the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-young CHOI, Won-jong YOO, Chang-ho RA, Tian-zi SHEN
  • Publication number: 20130122190
    Abstract: A chemical bath deposition system is used for forming a buffer layer and a ZnO window layer on a back electrode substrate having a photoelectric transducing layer. The chemical bath deposition system includes a first bath tank and a second bath tank. The first bath tank is used for storing a buffer-layer solution. The buffer-layer solution forms the buffer layer on the photoelectric transducing layer when the back electrode substrate is immersed in the buffer-layer solution. The second bath tank is for storing a window-layer solution. The window-layer solution forms the ZnO window layer on the buffer layer when the back electrode substrate is immersed in the window-layer solution. The first bath tank and the second bath tank are in an in-line arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Lee, Lung-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 8440498
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for forming thin-films from solid group IIIA-based particles. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is described comprising of providing a first material comprising an alloy of a) a group IIIA-based material and b) at least one other material. The material may be included in an amount sufficient so that no liquid phase of the alloy is present within the first material in a temperature range between room temperature and a deposition or pre-deposition temperature higher than room temperature, wherein the group IIIA-based material is otherwise liquid in that temperature range. The other material may be a group IA material. A precursor material may be formulated comprising a) particles of the first material and b) particles containing at least one element from the group consisting of: group IB, IIIA, VIA element, alloys containing any of the foregoing elements, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Robinson, Chris Eberspacher, Jeroen K. J. Van Duren
  • Publication number: 20130115468
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for obtaining a material comprising a substrate provided on at least one of its faces with a permanent coating comprising at least one thin film, said process comprising the following steps: said permanent coating is deposited on at least one of the faces of said substrate; then a temporary coating is deposited directly on top of said permanent coating, said temporary coating comprising, as the layer closest to the substrate, at least one thin film soluble in a solvent, surmounted by at least one functional layer; then the substrate thus coated is subjected to a heat treatment; and then said coated substrate is treated with said solvent so as to remove said temporary coating from the surface of said substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Andriy Kharchenko
  • Patent number: 8431183
    Abstract: The present teachings provide a composition that includes a functionalized polyfluoropolyether and functionalized polybutadiene in a weight ratio of functionalized polyfluoropolyether/functionalized polybutadiene of from about 20/80 to about 80/20 in a solvent. The composition can be used to form a surface layer having a water contact angle of greater than about 90° and a hexanedecane contact angle greater than about 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Lanhui Zhang, Lin Ma
  • Publication number: 20130098436
    Abstract: A variety of methods, devices, systems and arrangements are implemented involving nanowire meshes. One such method is implemented to include synthesizing metal nanowires in a solution containing a structure-directing agent. The metal nanowires are deposited on a substrate to form a sheet of nanowires. The deposited metal nanowires are heated to a temperature less than about 200 degrees Celsius and for a period of time of about 10 minutes to 60 minutes, thereby removing the structure-directing agent and modifying the electrical conductivity and optical transmittance of the sheet of nanowires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
  • Patent number: 8426727
    Abstract: The invention relates to an organic photoactive device, especially an organic photovoltaic cell, with a contact and a countercontact as well as with an organic region that is electrically connected to the contact and the countercontact, wherein a photoactive region with a photoactive bulk heterojunction or a flat heterojunction between an electron-conducting organic material and a hole-conducting organic material is formed in the organic region and wherein the hole-conducting organic material and/or the electron-conducting organic material is formed from oligomers according to any one of the following types: conjugated acceptor-donor-acceptor oligomer (A-D-A? oligomer) with an acceptor unit (A) and a further acceptor unit (A?) that are each connected to a donor unit (D), and conjugated donor-acceptor-donor oligomer (D-A-D? oligomer) with a donor unit (D) and a further donor unit (D?) that are each connected to an acceptor unit (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Heliatek GmbH, Universitat ULM
    Inventors: Martin Pfeiffer, Christian Uhrich, Annette Petrich, Rico Schüppel, Kerstin Schulze, Karl Leo, Peter Bäuerle, Egon Reinold, Eduard Brier
  • Patent number: 8420182
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) display device including dichroic dye. The method may include filling a mixture solution including liquid crystals, a photopolymerizable material, dichroic dyes, and liquid crystalline polymers in a space between a first electrode and a second electrode that face each other; applying an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode; and arranging the dichroic dyes in the mixture solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-eun Jang, Jae-eun Jung, Gae-hwang Lee, Jin-woo Lee, Young-jae Jun
  • Patent number: 8420166
    Abstract: Methods for preparing a patterned metal/metal oxide layer by using a solution type precursor or sol-gel precursor are provided and, especially, a method for preparing a patterned carrier transport of a solar cell and a method for preparing biomedical material are provided, which comprise the following steps: (A) providing a substrate, and a mold with designed patterns formed thereon; (B) coating the substrate with a solution of a precursor to form a precursor layer, wherein the precursor is a metal precursor or a metal oxide precursor; (C) pressing the mold together with the precursor layer to transfer the patterns of the mold onto the precursor layer; (D) curing or pre-curing the precursor layer; (E) removing the mold; and (F) conducting an optional post-treatment, if it being demanded, to further modify the properties of precursor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Sun-Zen Chen, Wen-Feng Kuo, Ruo-Ying Wu, Yu-Cheng Tzeng, Ching-Wen Chang, Hong-Jum Tan
  • Publication number: 20130087745
    Abstract: Processes and compositions for making photovoltaic absorber materials for thin film solar cells including CIGS are disclosed. The processes and compositions achieve high thickness per pass for efficient manufacturing. Processes include depositing one or more layers of an ink onto a substrate, wherein the ink contains one or more polymeric precursor compounds. An ink for making a photovoltaic absorber material may contain one or more precursor compounds and an additive dissolved in one or more solvents, including hydrocarbon solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: PRECURSOR ENERGETICS, INC.
    Inventor: PRECURSOR ENERGETICS, INC.
  • Patent number: 8414961
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for improved photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment, a method is provided for forming a photovoltaic device. The method comprises processing a precursor layer in one or more steps to form a photovoltaic absorber layer; depositing a smoothing layer to fill gaps and depression in the absorber layer to reduce a roughness of the absorber layer; adding an insulating layer over the smooth layer; and forming a web-like layer of conductive material over the insulating layer. By way of nonlimiting example, the web-like layer of conductive material comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. In some embodiments, the absorber layer is a group IB-IIIA-VIA absorber layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Robinson, Chris Eberspacher
  • Patent number: 8410354
    Abstract: Higher conversion efficiency and productivity of photoelectric conversion devices. A semiconductor layer including a first and second crystal regions grown in the layer-deposition direction is provided between an impurity semiconductor layer containing an impurity element imparting one conductivity type and an impurity semiconductor layer containing an impurity element imparting a conductivity type opposite to the one conductivity type. The first crystal region is grown from the interface between one of the impurity semiconductor layers and the semiconductor layer. The second crystal region is grown toward the interface between the semiconductor layer and the other of the impurity semiconductor layers from a position which is away from the interface between the one of the impurity semiconductor layers and the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer including the first and second crystal regions which exist in an amorphous structure forms the main part of a region for photoelectric conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8404302
    Abstract: A solution process is provided for forming a textured transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film. The process provides a substrate, and forms a first layer on the substrate of metal oxide nanoparticles such as ZnO, In2O3, or SnO2. The metal oxide nanoparticles have a faceted structure with an average size greater than 100 nanometers (nm). Voids between the metal oxide nanoparticles have a size about equal to the size of the metal oxide nanoparticles. Then, a second layer is formed overlaying the first layer, filling the voids between the nanoparticles of the first layer, and completely covering the substrate. The result is a continuous TCO film having an average surface roughness that is created by the combination of first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jer-shen Maa, Gregory S. Herman, Apostolos T. Voutsas
  • Patent number: 8398896
    Abstract: Described are aluminum pastes comprising spherical-shaped and nodular-shaped particulate aluminum and an organic vehicle and their use in forming p-type aluminum back electrodes of silicon solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Peter Brenner, Alistair Graeme Prince, Richard John Sheffield Young
  • Publication number: 20130056063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an oxide electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell including metal oxide nanoparticles by using a miller, and a dye-sensitized solar cell manufactured by using the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an oxide electrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell. The method includes (a) mixing metal oxide nanoparticles, a binder resin, and a solvent to prepare a metal oxide paste, (b) coating the metal oxide paste to a miller and pulverizing the metal oxide nanoparticles to prepare a paste including the metal oxide nanoparticles uniformly dispersed therein, and (c) coating the paste including the metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed therein on a conductive transparent substrate, performing a heat treatment of the resulting substrate, and adsorbing a dye thereon to manufacture the conductive electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kyung-Kon KIM, Nam-Gyu PARK, Dong-Young KIM, Jun-Kyung KIM
  • Patent number: 8377504
    Abstract: A method for producing an electroconductive polymer electrode that is excellent in electroconductivity and catalyst capability, is easily patterned, is high in use efficiency of a coating solution, and can produce conveniently with good reproducibility and productivity, and a dye-sensitized solar cell with an excellent conversion efficiency obtained by using the same are provided. Specifically, such a method is employed that a solution containing a monomer of an electroconductive polymer, a pyrrolidone compound represented by the following general formula (1) as a polymerization controlling agent and an oxidizing agent is coated on an electrode substrate, and then the monomer is polymerized by oxidation polymerization to form an electroconductive polymer electrode. wherein in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuteru Saito, Masashi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20130037103
    Abstract: To provide a back sheet for a solar cell module, which is light in weight and excellent in productivity, wherein a coating film formed from a coating composition containing a fluorinated copolymer (A), which is formed on at least one side of a substrate sheet, is excellent in adhesion to the substrate and free from a problem of cracking, fracturing, whitening or peeling. A back sheet for a solar cell module, comprising a substrate sheet and, as formed on at least one side of the substrate sheet, a coating film formed from a coating composition containing a fluorinated copolymer (A); and a solar cell module using such a back sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
  • Patent number: 8372226
    Abstract: The present invention is for a system and method of creating a continuous, seamless, waterproof, weatherproof, electrically generating surface that can be applied over a great variety of structural components. The method comprises coating the selected surface with a base elastomeric coating thus sealing holes, cracks and other surface imperfections. In one embodiment, the base elastomeric coating is allowed to dry and at least one photovoltaic module is placed on the base elastomeric coating by using another coat of elastomeric material applied to the underside surface of the photovoltaic module or on the surface of the base elastomeric coating where the photovoltaic module will be applied. Another layer of an elastomeric coating is applied covering the perimeter edges of the photovoltaic module creating a continuous, seamless, waterproof, weatherproof surface capable of generating electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Michael L Gumm
  • Patent number: 8372734
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after selective forces settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and/or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be nanoflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense films formed from nanoflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment, at least one set of the particles in the ink may be inter-metallic flake particles (microflake or nanoflake) containing at least one group IB-IIIA inter-metallic alloy phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc
    Inventors: Jeroen K. J. Van Duren, Matthew R. Robinson, Brian M. Sager
  • Patent number: 8366974
    Abstract: An article of manufacture and methods of making same. In one embodiment, the article of manufacture has a plurality of zinc oxide layers substantially in parallel, wherein each zinc oxide layer has a thickness d1, and a plurality of organic molecule layers substantially in parallel, wherein each organic molecule layer has a thickness d2 and a plurality of molecules with a functional group that is bindable to zinc ions, wherein for every pair of neighboring zinc oxide layers, one of the plurality of organic molecule layers is positioned in between the pair of neighboring zinc oxide layers to allow the functional groups of the plurality of organic molecules to bind to zinc ions in the neighboring zinc oxide layers to form a lamellar hybrid structure with a geometric periodicity d1+d2, and wherein d1 and d2 satisfy the relationship of d1?d2?3d1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Samuel I. Stupp, Josh Goldberger, Marina Sofos
  • Patent number: 8361831
    Abstract: In the zinc oxide film forming apparatus (1), the deposit containing zinc oxide is formed on the conductive layer of the resin substrate (9) by electrodeposition in the deposition part (2), and the resin substrate (9) is carried to the applying part (4). Subsequently, the film forming material which is in liquid or paste form and contains particles of zinc oxide and solvent is applied onto the conductive layer, and then the solvent is removed from the film forming material on the conductive layer by volatilization. It is therefore possible to easily and efficiently form the porous zinc oxide film which has superior adhesion to the conductive layer of the resin substrate (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yane
  • Publication number: 20130019946
    Abstract: A cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules, a method of manufacturing the same, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method of manufacturing the same, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules which includes a resin layer can be prepared by coating or impregnating one surface of a porous substrate with a super-absorbent polymer (SAP) containing a fluid. Here, the resin layer includes the fluid-containing SAP which is formed on one surface of the porous substrate or impregnated with the porous substrate. When the cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules is attached to the outside of the weather-resistant substrate to prepare the backsheet for photovoltaic modules, it is possible to suppress an increase in power generation temperature of a photoelectric cell by evaporation of the fluid, for example water, included in the SAP, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Cheol KIM, Je Sik Jung
  • Patent number: 8354584
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged dye sensitized solar cell which has a short-circuit preventing structure while a distance between a transparent conductive oxide and a counter electrode, that is, a cell gap is shortened. The dye sensitized solar cell includes a transparent conductive oxide which includes a transparent substrate and a conductive metal oxide having a light transmission property; a metal grid which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide; a protective film with which the metal grid is coated; a dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide in which the metal grid is not formed; and a counter electrode substrate, wherein a short-circuit preventing layer is provided in the counter electrode substrate facing the metal grid, and a width formed by a short side of the short-circuit preventing layer is larger than a width formed by the metal grid and protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshimoto, Hiroto Naito
  • Publication number: 20130011960
    Abstract: Techniques for increasing conductivity of graphene films by chemical doping are provided. In one aspect, a method for increasing conductivity of a graphene film includes the following steps. The graphene film is formed from one or more graphene sheets. The graphene sheets are exposed to a solution having a one-electron oxidant configured to dope the graphene sheets to increase a conductivity thereof, thereby increasing the overall conductivity of the film. The graphene film can be formed prior to the graphene sheets being exposed to the one-electron oxidant solution. Alternatively, the graphene sheets can be exposed to the one-electron oxidant solution prior to the graphene film being formed. A method of fabricating a transparent electrode on a photovoltaic device from a graphene film is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Ageeth Anke Bol, George Stojan Tulevski
  • Patent number: 8349405
    Abstract: A liquid discharge method is a method for depositing liquid on a plurality of target discharge partitioned areas formed on a substrate as the liquid is selectively discharged from a plurality of discharge nozzles while the substrate and the discharge nozzles are moved relative to each other. The liquid discharge method includes setting an arrangement pattern according to shapes and positions of the target discharge partitioned areas so that a number of the discharge nozzles selected to be used among the discharge nozzles capable of depositing the liquid in the target discharge partitioned areas is the same in each discharge timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Kazumi Aruga, Satoru Katagami, Sadaharu Komori
  • Publication number: 20130000698
    Abstract: A light convergence device, a manufacturing method thereof and a solar battery system are provided. The light convergence device (10) includes a light convergence substrate (100). The light convergence substrate (100) includes a rotating paraboloid (101). A photonic crystal layer (300) is formed on the rotating paraboloid (101). The photonic crystal layer (300) is used to reflect a light with a special frequency, and totally reflect all the visible light, such that photoelectric conversion efficiency of a solar battery system is greatly increased. An up-conversion layer (200) is formed on the photonic crystal layer (300). The up-conversion layer (200) includes up-conversion material with up-conversion function for spectrum. The up-conversion material is used to increase absorbing efficiency of the light convergence device (10) for solar energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Mingjie Zhou, Jie Huang, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 8343267
    Abstract: A gallium formulated ink is provided. Also provided are methods of preparing the gallium formulated ink and for using the gallium formulated ink to deposit a Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a material on a substrate for use in the manufacture of a variety of chalcogenide containing semiconductor materials, such as, thin film transistors (TFTs), light emitting diodes (LEDs); and photoresponsive devices (e.g., electrophotography (e.g., laser printers and copiers), rectifiers, photographic exposure meters and photovoltaic cells) and chalcogenide containing phase change memory materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC
    Inventors: David Mosley, David Thorsen
  • Publication number: 20120325295
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a transparent substrate, at least one transparent electrically conductive layer on the substrate. At least one photoelectric device for converting radiation energy into electrical energy can be arranged on the at least one transparent electrically conductive layer. The at least one transparent electrically conductive layer includes at least one first transparent electrically conductive layer and at least one second transparent electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E. V., Schueco TF GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Sauberlich, Bernd Stannowski, Tobias Wendelmuth, Volker Sittinger, Bernd Szyszka