ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150280042 | Systems and Methods for Advanced Ultra-High-Performance InP Solar Cells - Systems and Methods for Advanced Ultra-High-Performance InP Solar Cells are provided. In one embodiment, an InP photovoltaic device comprises: a p-n junction absorber layer comprising at least one InP layer; a front surface confinement layer; and a back surface confinement layer; wherein either the front surface confinement layer or the back surface confinement layer forms part of a High-Low (HL) doping architecture; and wherein either the front surface confinement layer or the back surface confinement layer forms part of a heterointerface system architecture. | 10-01-2015 |
20150247170 | BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Strains of cyanobacteria that produce high levels of alpha ketoglutarate (AKG) and pyruvate are disclosed herein. Methods of culturing these cyanobacteria to produce AKG or pyruvate and recover AKG or pyruvate from the culture are also described herein. Nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides that function as ethylene-forming enzymes and their use in the production of ethylene are further disclosed herein. These nucleic acids may be expressed in hosts such as cyanobacteria, which in turn may be cultured to produce ethylene. | 09-03-2015 |
20140377648 | HYBRID RADICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING - Hybrid radical energy storage devices, such as batteries or electrochemical devices, and methods of use and making are disclosed. Also described herein are electrodes and electrolytes useful in energy storage devices, for example, radical polymer cathode materials and electrolytes for use in organic radical batteries. | 12-25-2014 |
20140352685 | WEATHERABLE SOLAR REFLECTOR WITH HIGH ABRASION RESISTANCE - Described herein are solar reflectors which provide a low cost reflector construction that has a unique set of attributes: high solar reflectance, abrasion resistance, UV stability, mechanical integrity, and flexibility. The abrasion resistance is enabled through incorporation of an abrasion-resistant coating into a polymer film metal mirror construction. Methods of using the solar reflectors in solar concentrating applications are also provided. | 12-04-2014 |
20140345673 | Photovoltaic Sub-Cell Interconnects - Photovoltaic sub-cell interconnect systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device comprises a thin film stack of layers deposited upon a substrate, wherein the thin film stack layers are subdivided into a plurality of sub-cells interconnected in series by a plurality of electrical interconnection structures; and wherein the plurality of electrical interconnection structures each comprise no more than two scribes that penetrate into the thin film stack layers. | 11-27-2014 |
20140342421 | BIOCATALYSTS WITH ENHANCED INHIBITOR TOLERANCE - Disclosed herein are biocatalysts for the production of biofuels, including microorganisms that contain genetic modifications conferring tolerance to growth and fermentation inhibitors found in many cellulosic feedstocks. Methods of converting cellulose-containing materials to fuels and chemicals, as well as methods of fermenting sugars to fuels and chemicals, using these biocatalysts are also disclosed. | 11-20-2014 |
20140332848 | LOW-BANDGAP, MONOLITHIC, MULTI-BANDGAP, OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES - Low bandgap, monolithic, multi-bandgap, optoelectronic devices ( | 11-13-2014 |
20140332374 | STABLE PHOTOELECTRODE SURFACES AND METHODS - Disclosed herein are methods of treating a semiconductor surface by nitridation and deposition of a ruthenium alloy. Also disclosed are semiconductors treated with these methods, their incorporation into photoelectrochemical cells, and their use in photoelectrochemical water splitting. | 11-13-2014 |
20140326433 | Indirect Evaporative Cooler Using Membrane-Contained, Liquid Desiccant For Dehumidification - An indirect evaporative cooler for cooling inlet supply air from a first temperature to a second, lower temperature using a stream of liquid coolant and a stream of exhaust or purge air. The cooler includes a first flow channel for inlet supply air and a second flow channel adjacent the first for exhaust air. The first and second flow channels are defined in part by sheets of a membrane permeable to water vapor such that mass is transferred as a vapor through the membrane from the inlet supply air to a contained liquid desiccant for dehumidification and also to the exhaust air as heat is transferred from the inlet supply air to the liquid coolant. A separation wall divides the liquid desiccant and the coolant but allows heat to be transferred from the supply air to the coolant which releases water vapor to the counter or cross flowing exhaust air. | 11-06-2014 |
20140318623 | PHOTOVOLTAIC SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS BASED ON ALLOYS OF TIN SULFIDE, AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION - Photovoltaic thin-film materials comprising crystalline tin sulfide alloys of the general formula Sn | 10-30-2014 |
20140298822 | Chemical Looping Fluidized-Bed Concentrating Solar Power System and Method - A concentrated solar power (CSP) plant comprises a receiver configured to contain a chemical substance for a chemical reaction and an array of heliostats. Each heliostat is configured to direct sunlight toward the receiver. The receiver is configured to transfer thermal energy from the sunlight to the chemical substance in a reduction reaction. The CSP plant further comprises a first storage container configured to store solid state particles produced by the reduction reaction and a heat exchanger configured to combine the solid state particles and gas through an oxidation reaction. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat produced in the oxidation reaction to a working fluid to heat the working fluid. The CSP plant further comprises a power turbine coupled to the heat exchanger, such that the heated working fluid turns the power turbine, and a generator coupled to and driven by the power turbine to generate electricity. | 10-09-2014 |
20140290355 | Systems and Methods for Thermal Imaging Technique for Measuring Mixing of Fluids - Systems and methods for thermal imaging for measuring mixing of fluids are provided. In one embodiment, a method for measuring mixing of gaseous fluids using thermal imaging comprises: positioning a thermal test medium parallel to a direction gaseous fluid flow from an outlet vent of a momentum source, wherein when the source is operating, the fluid flows across a surface of the medium; obtaining an ambient temperature value from a baseline thermal image of the surface; obtaining at least one operational thermal image of the surface when the fluid is flowing from the outlet vent across the surface, wherein the fluid has a temperature different than the ambient temperature; and calculating at least one temperature-difference fraction associated with at least a first position on the surface based on a difference between temperature measurements obtained from the at least one operational thermal image and the ambient temperature value. | 10-02-2014 |
20140273295 | Optical Control Of Multi-Stage Thin Film Solar Cell Production - Embodiments include methods of depositing and controlling the deposition of a film in multiple stages. The disclosed deposition and deposition control methods include the optical monitoring of a deposition matrix to determine a time when at least one transition point occurs. In certain embodiments, the transition point or transition points are a stoichiometry point. Methods may also include controlling the length of time in which material is deposited during a deposition stage or controlling the amount of the first, second or subsequent materials deposited during any deposition stage in response to a determination of the time when a selected transition point occurs. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260398 | INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLERS WITH ENHANCED HEAT TRANSFER - A separator plate assembly for use in an indirect evaporative cooler (IEC) with an air-to-air heat exchanger. The assembly includes a separator plate with a first surface defining a dry channel and a second surface defining a wet channel. The assembly includes heat transfer enhancements provided on the first surface for increasing heat transfer rates. The heat transfer enhancements may include slit fins with bodies extending outward from the first surface of separator plate or may take other forms including vortex generators, offset strip fins, and wavy fins. In slit fin implementations, the separator plate has holes proximate to each of the slit fins, and the separator plate assembly may include a sealing layer applied to the second surface of the separator plate to block air flow through the holes. The sealing layer can be a thickness of adhesive, and a layer of wicking material is applied to the adhesive. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260372 | CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLERS - A control method for operating an indirect evaporative cooler to control temperature and humidity. The method includes operating an airflow control device to provide supply air at a flow rate to a liquid desiccant dehumidifier. The supply air flows through the dehumidifier and an indirect evaporative cooler prior to exiting an outlet into a space. The method includes operating a pump to provide liquid desiccant to the liquid desiccant dehumidifier and sensing a temperature of an airstream at the outlet of the indirect evaporative cooler. The method includes comparing the temperature of the airstream at the outlet to a setpoint temperature at the outlet and controlling the pump to set the flow rate of the liquid desiccant. The method includes sensing space temperature, comparing the space temperature with a setpoint temperature, and controlling the airflow control device to set the flow rate of the supply air based on the comparison. | 09-18-2014 |
20140256081 | Methods For Producing Thin Film Charge Selective Transport Layers - Methods for producing thin film charge selective transport layers are provided. In one embodiment, a method for forming a thin film charge selective transport layer comprises: providing a precursor solution comprising a metal containing reactive precursor material dissolved into a complexing solvent; depositing the precursor solution onto a surface of a substrate to form a film; and forming a charge selective transport layer on the substrate by annealing the film. | 09-11-2014 |
20140256080 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE PN JUNCTION FABRICATION USING OPTICAL PROCESSING OF AMORPHOUS SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL - Systems and methods for semiconductor device PN junction fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an electrical device having a P-N junction comprises: depositing a layer of amorphous semiconductor material onto a crystalline semiconductor base, wherein the crystalline semiconductor base comprises a crystalline phase of a same semiconductor as the amorphous layer; and growing the layer of amorphous semiconductor material into a layer of crystalline semiconductor material that is epitaxially matched to the lattice structure of the crystalline semiconductor base by applying an optical energy that penetrates at least the amorphous semiconductor material. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253161 | Apparatus and Methods of Measuring Minority Carrier Lifetime Using a Liquid Probe - Methods and apparatus for measuring minority carrier lifetimes using liquid probes are provided. In one embodiment, a method of measuring the minority carrier lifetime of a semiconductor material comprises: providing a semiconductor material having a surface; forming a rectifying junction at a first location on the surface by temporarily contacting the surface with a conductive liquid probe; electrically coupling a second junction to the semiconductor material at a second location, wherein the first location and the second location are physically separated; applying a forward bias to the rectifying junction causing minority carrier injection in the semiconductor material; measuring a total capacitance as a function of frequency between the rectifying junction and the second junction; determining an inflection frequency of the total capacitance; and determining a minority lifetime of the semiconductor material from the inflection frequency. | 09-11-2014 |
20140211985 | Image-Based Occupancy Sensor - An image-based occupancy sensor includes a motion detection module that receives and processes an image signal to generate a motion detection signal, a people detection module that receives the image signal and processes the image signal to generate a people detection signal, a face detection module that receives the image signal and processes the image signal to generate a face detection signal, and a sensor integration module that receives the motion detection signal from the motion detection module, receives the people detection signal from the people detection module, receives the face detection signal from the face detection module, and generates an occupancy signal using the motion detection signal, the people detection signal, and the face detection signal, with the occupancy signal indicating vacancy or occupancy, with an occupancy indication specifying that one or more people are detected within the monitored volume. | 07-31-2014 |
20140209149 | SUPERSTRATE SUB-CELL VOLTAGE-MATCHED MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR CELLS - Voltage-matched thin film multijunction solar cell and methods of producing cells having upper CdTe pn junction layers formed on a transparent substrate which in the completed device is operatively positioned in a superstate configuration. The solar cell also includes a lower pn junction formed independently of the CdTe pn junction and an insulating layer between CdTe and lower pn junctions. The voltage-matched thin film multijunction solar cells further include a parallel connection between the CdTe pn junction and lower pn junctions to form a two-terminal photonic device. Methods of fabricating devices from independently produced upper CdTe junction layers and lower junction layers are also disclosed. | 07-31-2014 |
20140204383 | On-line, Continuous Monitoring in Solar Cell and Fuel Cell Manufacturing Using Spectral Reflectance Imaging - A monitoring system | 07-24-2014 |
20140202870 | ELECTRODEPOSITION OF GALLIUM FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS - An electroplating solution and method for producing an electroplating solution containing a gallium salt, an ionic compound and a solvent that results in a gallium thin film that can be deposited on a substrate. | 07-24-2014 |
20140202151 | Hybrid Air-Cooled Condenser For Power Plants and Other Applications - A hybrid air-cooled condenser system. The system may be provided by converting one among the many air-cooled condensers or condenser bays of a conventional condenser system to an evaporative cooler or condenser. The evaporative condenser may be plumbed in the condenser system to be in series in the vapor path with, upstream or downstream of, the air-cooled condensers. In one embodiment, the working fluid flows from an output or discharge header of the air-cooled section or assembly of the hybrid condensing system to an inlet of the evaporatively cooled section, e.g., to one or more evaporative coolers or condensers. In one modeled geothermal power plant, the condensing load on the air-cooled section was reduced by 50 percent when compared to a fully air-cooled condenser system. The condenser arrangement may be used to improve summer time performance of geothermal power plants. | 07-24-2014 |
20140150861 | SECONDARY TREATMENT OF FILMS OF COLLOIDAL QUANTUM DOTS FOR OPTOELECTRONICS AND DEVICES PRODUCED THEREBY - A method of forming an optoelectronic device. The method includes providing a deposition surface and contacting the deposition surface with a ligand exchange chemical and contacting the deposition surface with a quantum dot (QD) colloid. This initial process is repeated over one or more cycles to form an initial QD film on the deposition surface. The method further includes subsequently contacting the QD film with a secondary treatment chemical and optionally contacting the surface with additional QDs to form an enhanced QD layer exhibiting multiple exciton generation (MEG) upon absorption of high energy photons by the QD active layer. Devices having an enhanced QD active layer as described above are also disclosed. | 06-05-2014 |
20140141563 | BACK CONTACT TO FILM SILICON ON METAL FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - Systems and Methods for back contact to film silicon on metal for photovoltaic cells are provided. In one embodiment, a method for creating a conductive pathway in a photovoltaic cell comprises: obtaining a layered photovoltaic device comprising: a metal substrate with a crystal orientation; a crystal semiconductor layer with the crystal orientation; and a heteroepitaxially grown buffer layer positioned between the substrate and the crystal semiconductor layer; and forming one or more conductive pathways between the crystal semiconductor layer and the metal substrate, the pathways being through at least a portion of the buffer layer. | 05-22-2014 |
20140134786 | CdTe Devices and Method of Manufacturing Same - A method of producing polycrystalline CdTe materials and devices that incorporate the polycrystalline CdTe materials are provided. In particular, a method of producing polycrystalline p-doped CdTe thin films for use in CdTe solar cells in which the CdTe thin films possess enhanced acceptor densities and minority carrier lifetimes, resulting in enhanced efficiency of the solar cells containing the CdTe material are provided. | 05-15-2014 |
20140127850 | FORMING HIGH-EFFICIENCY SILICON SOLAR CELLS USING DENSITY-GRADED ANTI-REFLECTION SURFACES - A method (50) is provided for processing a graded-density AR silicon surface ( | 05-08-2014 |
20140107381 | HYDROXIDE CATALYSTS FOR LIGNIN DEPOLYMERIZATION - Solid base catalysts and their use for the base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to compounds such as aromatics are presented herein. Exemplary catalysts include layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts for BCD of lignin. | 04-17-2014 |
20140100112 | ELECTRODEPOSITION OF BIAXIALLY TEXTURED LAYERS ON A SUBSTRATE - Methods of producing one or more biaxially textured layer on a substrate, and articles produced by the methods, are disclosed. As exemplary method may comprise electrodepositing on the substrate a precursor material selected from the group consisting of rare earths, transition metals, actinides, lanthanides, and oxides thereof. An exemplary article may comprise a biaxially textured base material, and at least one biaxially textured layer selected from the group consisting of rare earths, transition metals, actinides, lanthanides, and oxides thereof. The at least one biaxially textured layer is formed by electrodeposition on the biaxially textured base material. | 04-10-2014 |
20140093985 | IN SITU OPTICAL DIAGNOSTIC FOR MONITORING OR CONTROL OF SODIUM DIFFUSION IN PHOTOVOLTAICS MANUFACTURING - A method of fabricating a photovoltaic device | 04-03-2014 |
20140087512 | LIQUID PRECURSOR FOR DEPOSITION OF COPPER SELENIDE AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME - Liquid precursors containing copper and selenium suitable for deposition on a substrate to form thin films suitable for semiconductor applications are disclosed. Methods of preparing such liquid precursors and methods of depositing a precursor on a substrate are also disclosed. | 03-27-2014 |
20140083505 | VARYING CADMIUM TELLURIDE GROWTH TEMPERATURE DURING DEPOSITION TO INCREASE SOLAR CELL RELIABILITY - A method for forming thin films or layers of cadmium telluride (CdTe) for use in photovoltaic modules or solar cells. The method includes varying the substrate temperature during the growth of the CdTe layer by preheating a substrate (e.g., a substrate with a cadmium sulfide (CdS) heterojunction or layer) suspended over a CdTe source to remove moisture to a relatively low preheat temperature. Then, the method includes directly heating only the CdTe source, which in turn indirectly heats the substrate upon which the CdTe is deposited. The method improves the resulting CdTe solar cell reliability. The resulting microstructure exhibits a distinct grain size distribution such that the initial region is composed of smaller grains than the bulk region portion of the deposited CdTe. Resulting devices exhibit a behavior suggesting a more n-like CdTe material near the CdS heterojunction than devices grown with substrate temperatures held constant during CdTe deposition. | 03-27-2014 |
20140070827 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPENSATED BARRIER PERMEABILITY TESTING - Systems and methods for compensated barrier permeability testing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for testing water vapor penetration through a barrier material comprises: obtaining a first series of resistance measurements from a first moisture sensor located on a substrate surface of a test card, wherein the first moisture sensor is exposed to a testing chamber sealed onto the substrate surface of the test card; obtaining a second series of resistance measurements from a second moisture sensor, wherein the second moisture sensor is isolated from the testing chamber, wherein the testing chamber is defined by a cavity within a spacer element that separates the first moisture sensor from a test barrier; and determining a measurement of water vapor penetration through the test barrier by adjusting the first series of resistance measurement based on the second series of resistance measurement. | 03-13-2014 |
20140069493 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A multijunction photovoltaic device ( | 03-13-2014 |
20140065358 | THIN FILM ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH CONDUCTIVE AND TRANSPARENT GAS AND MOISTURE PERMEATION BARRIERS - Thin film electronic devices (or stacks integrated with a substrate) that include a permeation barrier formed of a thin layer of metal that provides a light transmitting and electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrical conductive layer is formed on a surface of the substrate or device layer such as a transparent conducting material layer with pin holes or defects caused by manufacturing and the thin layer of metal is deposited on the conductive layer and formed from a self-healing metal that forms self-terminating oxides. A permeation plug or block is formed in or adjacent to the thin film of metal at or proximate to the pin holes to block further permeation of contaminants through the pin holes. | 03-06-2014 |
20140061829 | HIGH SENSITIVITY, SOLID STATE NEUTRON DETECTOR - An apparatus ( | 03-06-2014 |
20140030769 | FREE ENZYME AND CELLULOSOME PREPARATIONS FOR CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS - Disclosed herein are combinations of free fungal enzymes and cellulosomes useful for the hydrolysis of cellulose and the conversion of biomass. Methods of degrading cellulose and biomass using the combinations are also disclosed. | 01-30-2014 |
20140003460 | CALORIMETERS FOR TESTING ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AND POWER ELECTRONICS METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME AND METHODS OF USE | 01-02-2014 |
20130340824 | Efficient Black Silicon Photovoltaic Devices With Enhanced Blue Response - A photovoltaic (PV) device with improved blue response. The PV device includes a silicon substrate with an emitter layer on a light receiving side. The emitter layer has a low opant level such that it has sheet resistance of 90 to 170 ohm/sq. Anti-reflection in the PV device is provided solely by a nano-structured or black silicon surface on the light-receiving surface, through which the emitter is formed by diffusion. The nano structures of the black silicon are formed in a manner that does not result in gold or another high-recombination metal being left in the black silicon such as with metal-assisted etching using silver. The black silicon is further processed to widen these pores so as to provide larger nanostructures with lateral dimensions in the range of 65 to 150 nanometers so as to reduce surface area and also to etch away a highly doped portion of the emitter. | 12-26-2013 |
20130340449 | INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLER USING MEMBRANE-CONTAINED LIQUID DESICCANT FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION AND FLOCKED SURFACES TO PROVIDE COOLANT FLOW - An apparatus for conditioning an inlet air stream. A first stage is provided with a dehumidifier cooling an air stream input by absorption of water vapor from the input air stream. A second stage is provided with an indirect evaporative cooler to receive a cooled portion of the input air stream and sensibly cool the received portion of the input air stream to a temperature range near the dew point temperature. A first portion of the sensibly cooled air stream is exhausted to a cooled space while a second portion is directed to a wet side of the indirect evaporative cooler and receives heat to sensibly cool the input air stream. A flow channel for the second portion of the sensibly cooled air stream in the indirect evaporative cooler is defined by a surface of a separation wall covered with wicking material acting to wick a stream of liquid coolant. | 12-26-2013 |
20130329221 | WAFER SCREENING DEVICE AND METHODS FOR WAFER SCREENING - Wafer breakage is a serious problem in the photovoltaic industry because a large fraction of wafers (between 5 and 10%) break during solar cell/module fabrication. The major cause of this excessive wafer breakage is that these wafers have residual microcracks—microcracks that were not completely etched. Additional propensity for breakage is caused by texture etching and incomplete edge grinding. To eliminate the cost of processing the wafers that break, it is best to remove them prior to cell fabrication. Some attempts have been made to develop optical techniques to detect microcracks. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to detect microcracks that are embedded within the roughness/texture of the wafers. Furthermore, even if such detection is successful, it is not straightforward to relate them to wafer breakage. We believe that the best way to isolate the wafers with fatal microcracks is to apply a stress to wafers—a stress that mimics the highest stress during cell/module processing. If a wafer survives this stress, it has a high probability of surviving without breakage during cell/module fabrication. Based on this, we have developed a high throughput, noncontact method for applying a predetermined stress to a wafer. The wafers are carried on a belt through a chamber that illuminates the wafer with an intense light of a predetermined intensity distribution that can be varied by changing the power to the light source. As the wafers move under the light source, each wafer undergoes a dynamic temperature profile that produces a preset elastic stress. If this stress exceeds the wafer strength, the wafer will break. The broken wafers are separated early, eliminating cost of processing into cell/module. We will describe details of the system and show comparison of breakage statistics with the breakage on a production line. | 12-12-2013 |
20130327398 | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Devices and Methods of Manufacture - Improved thin-film photovoltaic devices and methods of manufacturing such devices are described. Embodiments include a substrate-configured thin-film PV device ( | 12-12-2013 |
20130327380 | Boron, Bismuth Co-Doping of Gallium Arsenide and Other Compounds for Photonic and Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor Devices - Isoelectronic co-doping of semiconductor compounds and alloys with acceptors and deep donors is sued to decrease bandgap, to increase concentration of the dopant constituents in the resulting alloys, and to increase carrier mobilities lifetimes. For example, Group III-V compounds and alloys, such as GaAs and GaP, are isoelectronically co-doped with, for example, B and Bi, to customize solar cells, and other semiconductor devices. Isoelectronically co-doped Group II-VI compounds and alloys are also included. | 12-12-2013 |
20130309848 | HIGH THROUGHPUT SEMICONDUCTOR DEPOSITION SYSTEM - A reactor for growing or depositing semiconductor films or devices. The reactor may be designed for inline production of III-V materials grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The operating principles of the HVPE reactor can be used to provide a completely or partially inline reactor for many different materials. An exemplary design of the reactor is shown in the attached drawings. In some instances, all or many of the pieces of the reactor formed of quartz, such as welded quartz tubing, while other reactors are made from metal with appropriate corrosion resistant coatings such as quartz or other materials, e.g., corrosion resistant material, or stainless steel tubing or pipes may be used with a corrosion resistant material useful with HVPE-type reactants and gases. Using HVPE in the reactor allows use of lower-cost precursors at higher deposition rates such as in the range of 1 to 5 μm/minute. | 11-21-2013 |
20130256751 | METHODS OF PRODUCING FREE-STANDING SEMICONDUCTORS USING SACRIFICIAL BUFFER LAYERS AND RECYCLABLE SUBSTRATES - A method of producing semiconductor materials and devices that incorporate the semiconductor materials are provided. In particular, a method is provided of producing a semiconductor material, such as a III-V semiconductor, on a spinel substrate using a sacrificial buffer layer, and devices such as photovoltaic cells that incorporate the semiconductor materials. The sacrificial buffer material and semiconductor materials may be deposited using lattice-matching epitaxy or coincident site lattice-matching epitaxy, resulting in a close degree of lattice matching between the substrate material and deposited material for a wide variety of material compositions. The sacrificial buffer layer may be dissolved using an epitaxial liftoff technique in order to separate the semiconductor device from the spinel substrate, and the spinel substrate may be reused in the subsequent fabrication of other semiconductor devices. The low-defect density semiconductor materials produced using this method result in the enhanced performance of the semiconductor devices that incorporate the semiconductor materials. | 10-03-2013 |
20130226330 | OPTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING OF PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL COMPONENTS - A system for analyzing one or more proton exchange membranes is disclosed. The system may include a light source, a light detector, a light source driver and a central processing unit or computer. The system may determine one or more characteristics of the one or more proton exchange membranes. The system may include a roller or belt system in communication with the central processing unit, light source, light detector and light source driver, configured for use in a manufacturing assembly line. | 08-29-2013 |
20130224903 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOLAR CELLS WITH CIS AND CIGS FILMS MADE BY REACTING EVAPORATED COPPER CHLORIDES WITH SELENIUM - Systems and methods for solar cells with CIS and CIGS films made by reacting evaporated copper chlorides with selenium are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a thin film device comprises: providing a semiconductor film comprising indium (In) and selenium (Se) upon a substrate; heating the substrate and the semiconductor film to a desired temperature; and performing a mass transport through vapor transport of a copper chloride vapor and se vapor to the semiconductor film within a reaction chamber. | 08-29-2013 |
20130209841 | Passive Safety Device and Internal Short Tested Method for Energy Storage Cells and Systems - A passive safety device for an energy storage cell for positioning between two electrically conductive layers of the energy storage cell The safety device also comprising a separator and a non-conductive layer. A first electrically conductive material is provided on the non-conductive layer. A first opening is formed through the separator between the first electrically conductive material and one of the electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device. A second electrically conductive material is provided adjacent the first electrically conductive material on the non-conductive layer, wherein a space is formed on the non-conductive layer between the first and second electrically conductive materials. A second opening is formed through the non-conductive layer between the second electrically conductive material and another of the electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device. The first and second electrically conductive materials combine and exit at least partially through the first and second openings to connect the two electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device at a predetermined temperature. | 08-15-2013 |
20130203136 | BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Strains of cyanobacteria that produce high levels of alpha ketoglutarate (AKG) and pyruvate are disclosed herein. Methods of culturing these cyanobacteria to produce AKG or pyruvate and recover AKG or pyruvate from the culture are also described herein. Nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides that function as ethylene-forming enzymes and their use in the production of ethylene are further disclosed herein. These nucleic acids may be expressed in hosts such as cyanobacteria, which in turn may be cultured to produce ethylene. | 08-08-2013 |
20130189788 | L-ARABINOSE FERMENTING YEAST - An L-arabinose utilizing yeast strain is provided for the production of ethanol by introducing and expressing bacterial araA, araB and araD genes. L-arabinose transporters are also introduced into the yeast to enhance the uptake of arabinose. The yeast carries additional genomic mutations enabling it to consume L-arabinose, even as the only carbon source, and to produce ethanol. A yeast strain engineered to metabolize arabinose through a novel pathway is also disclosed. Methods of producing ethanol include utilizing these modified yeast strains. | 07-25-2013 |
20130178011 | DOPANT COMPOSITIONS AND THE METHOD OF MAKING TO FORM DOPED REGIONS IN SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS - Dopant compositions comprising a semiconductor material are described. Examples of dopant compositions comprise a particulate dopant component and a liquid or paste component, or comprise a dopant component and a particulate silicon component. Methods of forming doped regions in a semiconductor substrate material using the dopant compositions are described. A dopant composition including a dopant particulate component is described as a dopant source in a method for the formation of radiation-fired or radiation-doped contacts, for example in the formation of laser-fired or laser-doped contacts. Examples of the method find application in relation to the manufacture of photovoltaic cells. The use of doped particulate material, for example a composition including doped silicon powder, may reduce the likelihood of damage to the substrate. | 07-11-2013 |
20130171721 | DISRUPTION OF CELL WALLS FOR ENHANCED LIPID RECOVERY - Presented herein are methods of using cell wall degrading enzymes for recovery of internal lipid bodies from biomass sources such as algae. Also provided are algal cells that express at least one exogenous gene encoding a cell wall degrading enzyme and methods for recovering lipids from the cells. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168825 | FABRICATION OF IONIC LIQUID ELECTRODEPOSITED CU-SN-ZN-S-SE THIN FILMS AND METHOD OF MAKING - A semiconductor thin-film and method for producing a semiconductor thin-films comprising a metallic salt, an ionic compound in a non-aqueous solution mixed with a solvent and processing the stacked layer in chalcogen that results in a CZTS/CZTSS thin films that may be deposited on a substrate is disclosed. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168684 | BACK CONTACT TO FILM SILICON ON METAL FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A crystal oriented metal back contact for solar cells is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device and methods for making the photovoltaic device are disclosed. The photovoltaic device includes a metal substrate with a crystalline orientation and a heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer having the same crystal orientation of the metal substrate. A heteroepitaxial buffer layer having the crystal orientation of the metal substrate is positioned between the substrate and the crystal silicon layer to reduce diffusion of metal from the metal foil into the crystal silicon layer and provide chemical compatibility with the heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer. Additionally, the buffer layer includes one or more electrically conductive pathways to electrically couple the crystal silicon layer and the metal substrate. | 07-04-2013 |
20130144546 | BUILDING ENERGY ANALYSIS TOOL - A building energy analysis system includes a building component library configured to store a plurality of building components, a modeling tool configured to access the building component library and create a building model of a building under analysis using building spatial data and using selected building components of the plurality of building components stored in the building component library, a building analysis engine configured to operate the building model and generate a baseline energy model of the building under analysis and further configured to apply one or more energy conservation measures to the baseline energy model in order to generate one or more corresponding optimized energy models, and a recommendation tool configured to assess the one or more optimized energy models against the baseline energy model and generate recommendations for substitute building components or modifications. | 06-06-2013 |
20130122612 | PHOTOLUMINESCENCE-BASED QUALITY CONTROL FOR THIN FILM ABSORBER LAYERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A time-resolved photoluminescence-based system providing quality control during manufacture of thin film absorber layers for photovoltaic devices. The system includes a laser generating excitation beams and an optical fiber with an end used both for directing each excitation beam onto a thin film absorber layer and for collecting photoluminescence from the absorber layer. The system includes a processor determining a quality control parameter such as minority carrier lifetime of the thin film absorber layer based on the collected photoluminescence. In some implementations, the laser is a low power, pulsed diode laser having photon energy at least great enough to excite electron hole pairs in the thin film absorber layer. The scattered light may be filterable from the collected photoluminescence, and the system may include a dichroic beam splitter and a filter that transmit the photoluminescence and remove scattered laser light prior to delivery to a photodetector and a digital oscilloscope. | 05-16-2013 |
20130113495 | Fail-Safe Designs for Large Capacity Battery Systems - Fail-safe systems and design methodologies for large capacity battery systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methodologies serve to locate a faulty cell in a large capacity battery, such as a cell having an internal short circuit, determine whether the fault is evolving, and electrically isolate the faulty cell from the rest of the battery, preventing further electrical energy from feeding into the fault. | 05-09-2013 |
20130112244 | LOW-BANDGAP, MONOLITHIC, MULTI-BANDGAP, OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES - Low bandgap, monolithic, multi-bandgap, optoelectronic devices ( | 05-09-2013 |
20130082377 | INTEGRATED THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODULE HEAT EXCHANGER FOR POWER ELECTRONICS COOLING - Embodiments discussed herein are directed to a power semiconductor packaging that removes heat from a semiconductor package through one or more cooling zones that are located in a laterally oriented position with respect to the semiconductor package. Additional embodiments are directed to circuit elements that are constructed from one or more modular power semiconductor packages. | 04-04-2013 |
20130065130 | METHOD OF FABRICATING ELECTRODES INCLUDING HIGH-CAPACITY, BINDER-FREE ANODES FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES - An electrode ( | 03-14-2013 |
20130019930 | Secondary Treatment of Films of Colloidal Quantum Dots for Optoelectronics and Devices Produced Thereby - A method of forming an optoelectronic device. The method includes providing a deposition surface and contacting the deposition surface with a ligand exchange chemical and contacting the deposition surface with a quantum dot (QD) colloid. This initial process is repeated over one or more cycles to form an initial QD film on the deposition surface. The method further includes subsequently contacting the QD film with a secondary treatment chemical and optionally contacting the surface with additional QDs to form an enhanced QD layer exhibiting multiple exciton generation (MEG) upon absorption of high energy photons by the QD active layer. Devices having an enhanced QD active layer as described above are also disclosed. | 01-24-2013 |
20130011957 | METAL INKS - Self-reducing metal inks and systems and methods for producing and using the same are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise selecting a metal-organic (MO) precursor, selecting a reducing agent, and dissolving the MO precursor and the reducing agent in an organic solvent to produce a metal ink that remains in a liquid phase at room temperature. Metal inks, including self-reducing and fire-through metal inks, are also disclosed, as are various applications of the metal inks. | 01-10-2013 |
20120325673 | Electrochemical Nitridation of Metal Surfaces - Electrochemical nitridation of metals and the produced metals are disclosed. An exemplary method of electrochemical nitridation of metals comprises providing an electrochemical solution at low temperature. The method also comprises providing a three-electrode potentiostat system. The method also comprises stabilizing the three-electrode potentiostat system at open circuit potential. The method also comprises applying a cathodic potential to a metal. | 12-27-2012 |
20120318361 | MANUFACTURING THIN FILMS WITH CHALCOGEN SPECIES WITH INDEPENDENT CONTROL OVER DOPING AND BANDGAPS - A method for synthesizing a thin film of CZTS such as for use as an absorber in a photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate in a chamber, and, then, depositing a film of CZTS material on the substrate, the CZTS material comprising copper, zinc, tin, and at least on chalcogen species. The depositing includes tuning an optical bandgap of the film with heterovalent alloying. The depositing is performed at low temperatures with the substrate provided in the chamber free of direct/active heating. For example, the substrate may be maintained at a temperature below about 150° C. during the depositing of the film. The heterovalent alloying involves controlling deposition rates for the copper and the zinc to define a copper to zinc ratio set the optical bandgap such as a value between about 1.0 eV and about 2.75 eV. | 12-20-2012 |
20120315405 | HOT WIRE CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSTION (HWCVD) WITH CARBIDE FILAMENTS - A hot wire chemical vapor deposition apparatus for use in depositing thin films such as amorphous or epitaxial silicon upon a surface of a wafer or substrate by cracking a source or precursor gas such as silane. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber and a source of precursor gas operable to inject the precursor gas into the chamber. The HWCVD apparatus also includes a heater with a support surface exposed to the deposition chamber, and the heater is operable to heat a substrate positioned upon the support surface. The apparatus includes a catalytic decomposition assembly with a filament positioned between the heater and the precursor gas inlet for selectively passing a current through the filament to resistively heat material of the filament. The filament material may be carbide such as tantalum carbide, which may be coated on a graphite core. | 12-13-2012 |
20120295396 | SYNTHESIZING PHOTOVOLTAIC THIN FILMS OF HIGH QUALITY COPPER-ZINC-TIN ALLOY WITH AT LEAST ONE CHALCOGEN SPECIES - A method for synthesizing a thin film of copper, zinc, tin, and a chalcogen species (“CZTCh” or “CZTSS”) with well-controlled properties. The method includes depositing a thin film of precursor materials, e.g., approximately stoichiometric amounts of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and a chalcogen species (Ch). The method then involves re-crystallizing and grain growth at higher temperatures, e.g., between about 725 and 925 degrees K, and annealing the precursor film at relatively lower temperatures, e.g., between 600 and 650 degrees K. The processing of the precursor film takes place in the presence of a quasi-equilibrium vapor, e.g., Sn and chalcogen species. The quasi-equilibrium vapor is used to maintain the precursor film in a quasi-equilibrium condition to reduce and even prevent decomposition of the CZTCh and is provided at a rate to balance desorption fluxes of Sn and chalcogens. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295166 | HYBRID RADICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING - Hybrid radical energy storage devices, such as batteries or electrochemical devices, and methods of use and making are disclosed. Also described herein are electrodes and electrolytes useful in energy storage devices, for example, radical polymer cathode materials and electrolytes for use in organic radical batteries. | 11-22-2012 |
20120235041 | ABSOLUTE CAVITY PYRGEOMETER - Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and method to measure the long-wave irradiance of the atmosphere or long-wave source. The apparatus may involve a thermopile, a concentrator and temperature controller. The incoming long-wave irradiance may be reflected from the concentrator to a thermopile receiver located at the bottom of the concentrator to receive the reflected long-wave irradiance. In addition, the thermopile may be thermally connected to a temperature controller to control the device temperature. Through use of the apparatus, the long-wave irradiance of the atmosphere may be calculated from several measurements provided by the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus may provide an international standard of pyrgeometers' calibration that is traceable back to the International System of Units (SI) rather than to a blackbody atmospheric simulator. | 09-20-2012 |
20120216983 | PARALLEL INTEGRATED THERMAL MANAGEMENT - Embodiments discussed herein are directed to managing the heat content of two vehicle subsystems through a single coolant loop having parallel branches for each subsystem. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216536 | SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE POWER CYCLE CONFIGURATION FOR USE IN CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS - Methods and solar power generation systems including a working fluid circuit providing for the flow of supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO | 08-30-2012 |
20120181853 | SIMULTANEOUS DISTRIBUTION OF AC AND DC POWER - A system and method for the transport and distribution of both AC (alternating current) power and DC (direct current) power over wiring infrastructure normally used for distributing AC power only, for example, residential and/or commercial buildings' electrical wires is disclosed and taught. The system and method permits the combining of AC and DC power sources and the simultaneous distribution of the resulting power over the same wiring. At the utilization site a complementary device permits the separation of the DC power from the AC power and their reconstruction, for use in conventional AC-only and DC-only devices. | 07-19-2012 |
20120178204 | COPPER-ASSISTED, ANTI-REFLECTION ETCHING OF SILICON SURFACES | 07-12-2012 |
20120164517 | THIN FILM BURIED ANODE DEVICES - A reverse configuration, lithium thin film battery ( | 06-28-2012 |
20120160663 | Sputter Deposition and Annealing of High Conductivity Transparent Oxides - Sputtering deposition processes for generation of transparent conductive metal oxide films, and films produced by such methods, are disclosed. | 06-28-2012 |
20120132272 | SOLUTION PROCESSED METAL OXIDE THIN FILM HOLE TRANSPORT LAYERS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS - A method for the application of solution processed metal oxide hole transport layers in organic photovoltaic devices and related organic electronics devices is disclosed. The metal oxide may be derived from a metal-organic precursor enabling solution processing of an amorphous, p-type metal oxide. An organic photovoltaic device having solution processed, metal oxide, thin-film hole transport layer. | 05-31-2012 |
20120129332 | METHOD FOR FORMING METAL CONTACTS - Methods of forming metal contacts with metal inks in the manufacture of photovoltaic devices are disclosed. The metal inks are selectively deposited on semiconductor coatings by inkjet and aerosol apparatus. The composite is heated to selective temperatures where the metal inks burn through the coating to form an electrical contact with the semiconductor. Metal layers are then deposited on the electrical contacts by light induced or light assisted plating. | 05-24-2012 |
20120107491 | High Permittivity Transparent Films - Thin films containing a transparent conducting oxide and a high permittivity material are disclosed. Exemplary thin films may exhibit increased transmission in the visible-to-near infrared (vis-NIR) spectrum without a decrease in electrical conductivity compared to the thin film without the high permittivity material. Methods for making thin films having enhanced optical properties without substantially decreased electrical quality are also disclosed. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103825 | ANTI-REFLECTIVE NANOPOROUS SILICON FOR EFFICIENT HYDROGEN PRODUCTION - Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of anti-reflective nanoporous silicon for efficient hydrogen production by photoelectrolysis of water. A nanoporous black Si is disclosed as an efficient photocathode for H | 05-03-2012 |
20120102950 | SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT WITH THE INTEGRATION OF AN AERODERIVATIVE TURBINE - Exemplary embodiments are disclosed that utilize waste heat from one or more aeroderivative turbines to provide backup thermal energy for a parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. | 05-03-2012 |
20120097222 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTING OXIDE FILMS WITH IMPROVED PROPERTIES - A method of producing thin-film transparent conducting oxide (TCO) materials and devices that incorporate the transparent conducting oxide materials are disclosed. The method described is for coating glass, polymers, foils, or electronic devices with a TCO having improved characteristics. | 04-26-2012 |
20120091586 | CONFORMAL COATING OF HIGHLY STRUCTURED SURFACES - Method of applying a conformal coating to a highly structured substrate and devices made by the disclosed methods are disclosed. An example method includes the deposition of a substantially contiguous layer of a material upon a highly structured surface within a deposition process chamber. The highly structured surface may be associated with a substrate or another layer deposited on a substrate. The method includes depositing a material having an amorphous structure on the highly structured surface at a deposition pressure of equal to or less than about 3 mTorr. The method may also include removing a portion of the amorphous material deposited on selected surfaces and depositing additional amorphous material on the highly structured surface. | 04-19-2012 |
20120037560 | POROUS BLOCK NANOFIBER COMPOSITE FILTERS - Porous block nano-fiber composite ( | 02-16-2012 |
20120032187 | Lattice-Mismatched GaInP LED Devices and Methods of Fabricating Same | 02-09-2012 |
20120024715 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVE HYDROGEN TRANSPORT AND MEASUREMENT - Systems and methods for selectively removing hydrogen gas from a hydrogen-containing fluid volume are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) selectively permeable to hydrogen by exclusively conducting hydrogen ions. The system also includes metal deposited as layers onto opposite sides or faces of the PEM to form a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), each layer functioning as an electrode so that the MEA functions as an electrochemical cell in which the ionic conductors are hydrogen ions, and the MEA functioning as a hydrogen selective membrane (HSM) when located at the boundary between a hydrogen-containing fluid volume and a second fluid. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024365 | SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - A photovoltaic cell with enhanced transmissivity of infrared radiation. The photovoltaic cell includes a layer of photovoltaic material ( | 02-02-2012 |
20120015469 | High-Efficiency, Monolithic, Multi-Bandgap, Tandem, Photovoltaic Energy Converters - A monolithic, multi-bandgap, tandem solar photovoltaic converter has at least one, and preferably at least two, subcells grown lattice-matched on a substrate with a bandgap in medium to high energy portions of the solar spectrum and at least one subcell grown lattice-mismatched to the substrate with a bandgap in the low energy portion of the solar spectrum, for example, about 1 eV. | 01-19-2012 |
20110311882 | LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES HAVING CONFORMAL SOLID ELECTROLYTE LAYERS - Hybrid solid-liquid electrolyte lithium-ion battery devices are disclosed. Certain devices comprise anodes and cathodes conformally coated with an electron insulating and lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte layer. | 12-22-2011 |
20110308615 | CRYSTAL SILICON PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS - Crystal silicon processes and products ( | 12-22-2011 |
20110303265 | FORMING HIGH EFFICIENCY SILICON SOLAR CELLS USING DENSITY-GRADED ANTI-REFLECTION SURFACES | 12-15-2011 |
20110284755 | HIGH SENSITIVITY, SOLID STATE NEUTRON DETECTOR - An apparatus ( | 11-24-2011 |
20110284054 | SPECTRAL SPLITTING FOR MULTI-BANDGAP PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION - A spectrum-splitting photovoltaic converter system ( | 11-24-2011 |
20110277828 | DISORDER-ORDER HOMOJUNCTIONS AS MINORITY-CARRIER BARRIERS - A method for improving the overall quantum efficiency and output voltage in solar cells using spontaneous ordered semiconductor alloy absorbers to form a DOH below the front or above the back surface of the cell. | 11-17-2011 |
20110260124 | ALKALI METAL ION-DOPED ELECTROCHROMIC FILMS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - Alkali metal ion-doped electrochromic films, and methods of making such films, are disclosed. An exemplary electrochromic film comprises a lattice of an oxide of a Group VIII transition metal and a dopant deposited onto the surface of a substrate. The oxide is generated by heating at least one starting material and at least one dopant ion source on the surface of the substrate. | 10-27-2011 |
20110229749 | Advanced Vehicle Battery Cooling/Heating System with Varying Hydraulic Diameter - A battery cooling system ( | 09-22-2011 |
20110227417 | Renewable Energy Delivery Systems and Methods - A system, method and/or apparatus for the delivery of energy at a site, at least a portion of the energy being delivered by at least one or more of a plurality of renewable energy technologies, the system and method including calculating the load required by the site for the period; calculating the amount of renewable energy for the period, including obtaining a capacity and a percentage of the period for the renewable energy to be delivered; comparing the total load to the renewable energy available; and, implementing one or both of additional and alternative renewable energy sources for delivery of energy to the site. | 09-22-2011 |
20110223433 | MULTILAYER HETEROSTRUCTURES AND THEIR MANUFACTURE - A method of synthesizing multilayer heterostructures including an inorganic oxide layer residing on a solid substrate is described. Exemplary embodiments include producing an inorganic oxide layer on a solid substrate by a liquid coating process under relatively mild conditions. The relatively mild conditions include temperatures below 225° C. and pressures above 9.4 mb. In an exemplary embodiment, a solution of diethyl aluminum ethoxide in anhydrous diglyme is applied to a flexible solid substrate by slot-die coating at ambient atmospheric pressure, and the diglyme removed by evaporation. An AlO | 09-15-2011 |
20110214726 | Ultra- High Solar Conversion Efficiency for Solar Fuels and Solar Electricity via Multiple Exciton Generation in Quantum Dots Coupled with Solar Concentration - Photoconversion devices comprising a semiconductor region of nanostructured crystalline material are disclosed. The nanostructures of a crystalline material provide for the generation of multiple excitons per photon absorbed by the crystalline nanostructure in response to incident solar radiation. The photoconversion devices will also include one or more optical elements providing for the concentration of sunlight in the semiconductor region. Also disclosed are photoconversion methods, systems and apparatus featuring the combination solar concentration with nanostructures of a crystalline material providing for the generation of multiple excitons per photon absorbed by the crystalline nanostructure in response to incident solar radiation. | 09-08-2011 |
20110197958 | AMORPHOUS TIN-CADMIUM OXIDE FILMS AND THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - A tin-cadmium oxide film having an amorphous structure and a ratio of tin atoms to cadmium atoms of between 1:1 and 3:1. The tin-cadmium oxide film may have an optical band gap of between 2.7 eV and 3.35 eV. The film may also have a charge carrier concentration of between 1×10 | 08-18-2011 |
20110186115 | High Performance, High Bandgap, Lattice-Mismatched, GaInP Solar Cells - High performance, high bandgap, lattice-mismatched, photovoltaic cells ( | 08-04-2011 |
20110168436 | Thin Film Electronic Devices with Conductive and Transparent Gas and Moisture Permeation Barriers - A thin film stack ( | 07-14-2011 |
20110151283 | THIN FILM LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES AND ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES FABRICATED WITH NANOCOMPOSITE ELECTRODE MATERIALS - Thin-film lithium-based batteries and electrochromic devices ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110147791 | GROWTH OF COINCIDENT SITE LATTICE MATCHED SEMICONDUCTOR LAYERS AND DEVICES ON CRYSTALLINE SUBSTRATES - Methods of fabricating a semiconductor layer or device and said devices are disclosed. The methods include but are not limited to providing a substrate having a crystalline surface with a known lattice parameter (a). The method further includes growing a crystalline semiconductor layer on the crystalline substrate surface by coincident site lattice matched epitaxy, without any buffer layer between the crystalline semiconductor layer and the crystalline surface of the substrate. The crystalline semiconductor layer will be prepared to have a lattice parameter (a′) that is related to the substrate lattice parameter (a). The lattice parameter (a′) maybe related to the lattice parameter (a) by a scaling factor derived from a geometric relationship between the respective crystal lattices. | 06-23-2011 |
20110146791 | EPITAXIAL GROWTH OF SILICON FOR LAYER TRANSFER - Methods of preparing a thin crystalline silicon film for transfer and devices utilizing a transferred crystalline silicon film are disclosed. The methods include preparing a silicon growth substrate which has an interface defining substance associated with an exterior surface. The methods further include depositing an epitaxial layer of silicon on the silicon growth substrate at the surface and separating the epitaxial layer from the substrate substantially along the plane or other surface defined by the interface defining substance. The epitaxial layer may be utilized as a thin film of crystalline silicon in any type of semiconductor device which requires a crystalline silicon layer. In use, the epitaxial transfer layer may be associated with a secondary substrate. | 06-23-2011 |
20110130012 | RAPID THERMAL PROCESSING BY STAMPING - A rapid thermal processing device and methods are provided for thermal processing of samples such as semiconductor wafers. The device has components including a stamp ( | 06-02-2011 |
20110124046 | Extracellular Secretion of Recombinant Proteins - Nucleic acids encoding secretion signals, expression vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells containing the expression vectors are disclosed. Also disclosed are polypeptides that contain the secretion signals and methods of producing polypeptides, including methods of directing the extracellular secretion of the polypeptides. Exemplary embodiments include cellulase proteins fused to secretion signals, methods to produce and isolate these polypeptides, and methods to degrade lignocelluiosic biomass. | 05-26-2011 |
20110117417 | Flexible Thin Film Solid State Lithium Ion Batteries - Exemplary flexible thin film solid state lithium ion batteries ( | 05-19-2011 |
20110115910 | IMAGE PROCESSING OCCUPANCY SENSOR - A system and method of detecting occupants in a building automation system environment using image based occupancy detection and position determinations. In one example, the system includes an image processing occupancy sensor that detects the number and position of occupants within a space that has controllable building elements such as lighting and ventilation diffusers. Based on the position and location of the occupants, the system can finely control the elements to optimize conditions for the occupants, optimize energy usage, among other advantages. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115816 | AUGMENTED REALITY BUILDING OPERATIONS TOOL | 05-19-2011 |
20110108097 | METHODS OF MANIPULATING STRESSED EPISTRUCTURES - A method of processing an epistructure or processing a semiconductor device including associating a conformal and flexible handle with the epistructure and removing the epistructure and handle as a unit from the parent substrate. The method further includes causing the epistructure and handle unit to conform to a shape that differs from the shape the epistructure otherwise inherently assumes upon removal from the parent substrate. A device prepared according to the disclosed methods. | 05-12-2011 |
20110073887 | OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES HAVING A DIRECT-BAND-GAP BASE AND AN INDIRECT-BAND-GAP EMITTER - Optoelectronic devices, junctions and methods of fabricating a device or junction where the emitter layer is of an indirect-band-gap material and the base layer is of a direct-band-gap material. The device or junction may have, among other structures and layers, a base layer of a first semiconductor material having a first conductivity type and further having a direct band gap and an emitter layer forming a junction with the base layer. In this embodiment, the emitter layer may be of a second semiconductor material having a second conductivity type and further having an indirect band gap. The optoelectronic device may have the semiconductor material of the emitter layer substantially lattice mismatched with the semiconductor material of the base layer in bulk form. Alternatively, the emitter layer may be substantially lattice matched with the base layer. | 03-31-2011 |
20110070495 | METHOD OF FABRICATING ELECTRODES INCLUDING HIGH-CAPACITY, BINDER-FREE ANODES FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES - An electrode ( | 03-24-2011 |
20110059863 | IN VIVO EVOLUTION OF HYDROGENASES USING A HYDROGEN-SENSING SYSTEM - Provided herein are methods for measuring H2 production by a hydrogenase. Also provided are methods for evolving a hydrogenase or hydrogen-sensing system by comparing the level of production of H2 by the hydrogenase to the level Of H2 produced by a wild-type hydrogenase cultured under the same conditions and selecting a microorganism with increased H2 production over the H2 production by a microorganism having a wild-type hydrogenase. Further provided herein are microorganisms and plasmids comprising a hupSL promoter coupled with a reporter gene. | 03-10-2011 |
20110049520 | LATTICE MATCHED CRYSTALLINE SUBSTRATES FOR CUBIC NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR GR - Disclosed embodiments include methods of fabricating a semiconductor layer or device and devices fabricated thereby. The methods include, but are not limited to, providing a substrate having a cubic crystalline surface with a known lattice parameter and growing a cubic crystalline group III-nitride alloy layer on the cubic crystalline substrate by coincident site lattice matched epitaxy. The cubic crystalline group III-nitride alloy may be prepared to have a lattice parameter (a′) that is related to the lattice parameter of the substrate (a). The group III-nitride alloy may be a cubic crystalline In | 03-03-2011 |
20110048514 | LATTICE MATCHED SEMICONDUCTOR GROWTH ON CRYSTALLINE METALLIC SUBSTRATES - Methods of fabricating a semiconductor layer or device and said devices are disclosed. The methods include but are not limited to providing a metal or metal alloy substrate having a crystalline surface with a known lattice parameter (a). The methods further include growing a crystalline semiconductor alloy layer on the crystalline substrate surface by coincident site lattice matched epitaxy. The semiconductor layer may be grown without any buffer layer between the alloy and the crystalline surface of the substrate. The semiconductor alloy may be prepared to have a lattice parameter (a′) that is related to the lattice parameter (a). The semiconductor alloy may further be prepared to have a selected band gap. | 03-03-2011 |
20110041617 | BASE EXCITATION TESTING SYSTEM USING SPRING ELEMENTS TO PIVOTALLY MOUNT WIND TURBINE BLADES | 02-24-2011 |
20110030773 | PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL WITH BACK-SURFACE REFLECTIVITY SCATTERING - Crystal oriented photovoltaic cells with increased efficiency are disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a photovoltaic device includes a metal substrate with a crystalline orientation comprising a diffracting structure integrated into a surface of the metal substrate. The photovoltaic device includes a heteroepitaxial crystal silicon layer having the crystalline orientation of the metal substrate and a heteroepitaxially grown buffer layer having the crystalline orientation. The buffer layer is positioned adjacent to the surface of the metal substrate having the diffracting structure. | 02-10-2011 |
20110018563 | TEST DEVICE FOR MEASURING PERMEABILITY OF A BARRIER MATERIAL - A test device for measuring permeability of a barrier material. An exemplary device comprises a test card having a thin-film conductor-pattern formed thereon and an edge seal which seals the test card to the barrier material. Another exemplary embodiment is an electrical calcium test device comprising: a test card an impermeable spacer, an edge seal which seals the test card to the spacer and an edge seal which seals the spacer to the barrier material. | 01-27-2011 |
20110003485 | Optical Cavity Furnace for Semiconductor Wafer Processing - An optical cavity furnace | 01-06-2011 |
20100300522 | FABRICATION OF CONTACTS FOR SILICON SOLAR CELLS INCLUDING PRINTING BURN THROUGH LAYERS - A method for fabricating a contact ( | 12-02-2010 |
20100275695 | WIND TURBINE BLADE TESTING SYSTEM USING BASE EXCITATION - An apparatus ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100263717 | Low Temperature Junction Growth Using Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition - A system and a process for forming a semi-conductor device, and solar cells ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100263448 | DUAL- AXIS RESONANCE TESTING OF WIND TURBINE BLADES - An apparatus ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100243437 | RESEARCH-SCALE, CADMIUM TELLURIDE (CDTE) DEVICE DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM - An apparatus for dry deposition of thin films of cadmium telluride and other material layers required for a photovoltaic device. The apparatus includes a vacuum deposition chamber. A preheat station and source container are provided in the chamber, and the source container and material therein are heated to a deposition temperature. An integral shutter is placed in the chamber, and the shutter includes a planar body with a carrier receiver extending out from one end shaped as a two-prong fork or a closed loop. The shutter is positioned with the receiver and a received carrier in the preheat station and the body covering the source container outlet. The preheat station heats the carrier and sample to avoid thermal shock during deposition. The shutter is then positioned with the body moved from the source container outlet and the carrier receiver positioned to expose a sample surface to the deposition material. | 09-30-2010 |
20100224236 | Nanohole Film Electrodes - Nanohole electrodes useful in opto-electronic devices, and in particular, organic photovoltaics devices incorporating nanohole electrodes, are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes a photovoltaic device with a first electrode comprising a nanohole film, a second electrode, and an active layer located between the electrodes. Methods of producing a nanostructured electrode are also provided. | 09-09-2010 |
20100209594 | PRINTING ALUMINUM FILMS AND PATTERNED CONTACTS USING ORGANOMETALLIC PRECURSOR INKS | 08-19-2010 |
20100200049 | BIOHYBRID SYSTEM FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION - Provided herein are systems and methods for generating photocurrent and systems and methods for generating hydrogen. The systems comprise (a) isolated biological photosystem II (PSII) complexes; (b) an anode selected from the group consisting of graphite anode, glassy carbon anode, and FTO anode, wherein the PSII complexes are deposited onto the anode; (c) a source of red or white light, wherein red or white light illumination of the PSII complexes deposited on the anode generates a photoresponse comprising a photocurrent; (d) a working solution; and (e) a cathode. The methods comprise (a) isolating biological photosystem II (PSII) complexes; (b) providing an anode selected from the group consisting of a graphite anode, a glassy carbon anode, and an FTO anode, wherein the PSII complexes are deposited onto the anode; (c) providing a working solution; (d) providing a cathode; and (e) illuminating with red or white light the PSII complexes deposited on the anode, wherein red or white light illumination of PS II complexes generates a photoresponse comprising a photocurrent. | 08-12-2010 |
20100178677 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR BIOMASS TREATMENT - A system including an apparatus is presented for treatment of biomass that allows successful biomass treatment at a high solids dry weight of biomass in the biomass mixture. The design of the system provides extensive distribution of a reactant by spreading the reactant over the biomass as the reactant is introduced through an injection lance, while the biomass is rotated using baffles. The apparatus system to provide extensive assimilation of the reactant into biomass using baffles to lift and drop the biomass, as well as attrition media which fall onto the biomass, to enhance the treatment process. | 07-15-2010 |
20100171082 | HIGH QUALITY DOPED ZnO THIN FILMS - A transparent conducting oxide (TCO) film comprising: a TCO layer, and dopants selected from the elements consisting of Vanadium, Molybdenum, Tantalum, Niobium, Antimony, Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium, wherein the elements are n-type dopants; and
| 07-08-2010 |
20100139772 | NANOWIRE SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS - An inorganic two-phase nanowire structure including an inorganic semiconducting nanoporous charge conducting phase, and, an inorganic semiconductor nanowire array disposed within at least one of the pores of the nanoporous charge conducting phase. | 06-10-2010 |
20100136667 | THERMAL TOLERANT AVICELASE FROM ACIDOTHERMUS CELLULOLYTICUS - The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from | 06-03-2010 |
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20100055573 | THIN FILM BURIED ANODE BATTERY - A reverse configuration, lithium thin film battery ( | 03-04-2010 |
20090295159 | Adaptive Pitch Control for Variable Speed Wind Turbines - An adaptive for adjusting blade ( | 12-03-2009 |
20090263846 | Oxygen-resistant hydrogenases and methods for designing and making same - The invention provides oxygen-resistant iron-hydrogenases ([Fe]-hydrogenases) for use in the production of H | 10-22-2009 |
20090214942 | ORIENTED NANOTUBE ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES AND SUPERCAPACITORS - An electrode having an oriented array of multiple nanotubes is disclosed. Individual nanotubes have a lengthwise inner pore defined by interior tube walls which extends at least partially through the length of the nanotube. The nanotubes of the array may be oriented according to any identifiable pattern. Also disclosed is a device featuring an electrode and methods of fabrication. | 08-27-2009 |
20090209412 | Attrition Resistant Fluidizable Reforming Catalyst - A method of preparing a steam reforming catalyst characterized by improved resistance to attrition loss when used for cracking, reforming, water gas shift and gasification reactions on feedstock in a fluidized bed reactor, comprising: fabricating the ceramic support particle, coating a ceramic support by adding an aqueous solution of a precursor salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Cr, Co, Mn, Mg, K, La and Fe and mixtures thereof to the ceramic support and calcining the coated ceramic in air to convert the metal salts to metal oxides. | 08-20-2009 |
20090162916 | CELLOBIOHYDROLASE I ENZYMES - Provided herein is an isolated Cel7A polypeptide comprising mutations in the catalytic domain of the polypeptide relative to the catalytic domain of a wild type Cel7A polypeptide, wherein the mutations reduce N-linked glycosylation of the isolated polypeptide relative to the wild type polypeptide. Also provided herein is an isolated Cel7A polypeptide comprising increased O-linked glycosylation of the linker domain relative to a linker domain of a wild type Cel7A polypeptide. The increased O-linked glycosylation is a result of the addition of and/or substitution of one or more serine and/or threonine residues to the linker domain relative to the linker domain of the wild type polypeptide. In some embodiments, the isolated Cel7A polypeptide comprising mutations in the catalytic domain of the polypeptide relative to the catalytic domain of a wild type Cel7A polypeptide further comprises increased O-linked glycosylation of the linker domain relative to a linker domain of a wild type Cel7A polypeptide. The mutations in the catalytic domain reduce N-linked glycosylation of the isolated polypeptide relative to the wild type polypeptide. The addition of and/or substitution of one or more serine and/or threonine residues to the linker domain relative to the linker domain of the wild type polypeptide increases O-linked glycosylation of the isolated polypeptide. Further provided are compositions comprising such polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. Still further provided are methods for making such polypeptides. | 06-25-2009 |
20090081762 | Superactive Cellulase Formulation Using Cellobiohydrolase-1 from Penicillium Funiculosum - Purified cellobiohydrolase I (glycosyl hydrolase family 7 (Cel7A)) enzymes from | 03-26-2009 |