Disclosed herein is a solar cell which is composed basically of a first semiconductor layer of first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of second conductivity type, and a third semiconductor layer formed between them. The third semiconductor layer has a band gap narrower than that of the first and second semiconductor layers. The third semiconductor layer also has a pn junction therein. The semiconductor layers are each separated by a buffer layer in which the composition changes gr...

The solar absorber is equipped with an absorber body (10) that absorbs incident solar energy (12) and converts it to heat. The absorber body has a selective absorption layer (17) on a side (36) oriented toward the concentrator (13) and another selective absorption layer (18) on an opposite side (38) oriented away from the concentrator (13). The selective absorption layers (17, 18) have threshold wavelengths below which solar radiation is absorbed and above which a reradiation capacity of the abs...

Organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The devises are thin-film crystalline organic optoelectronic devices capable of generating a voltage when exposed to light, and prepared by a method including the steps of: depositing a first organic layer over a first electrode; depositing a second organic layer over the first organic layer; depositing a confining layer over the second organic layer to form a stack; annealing the stack; and finally depositing a second electrode over t...

A solar panel (10) has tubing (12) through which water from a swimming pool is recirculated. The tubing (12) is adapted to be exposed to the sun for heating the water to a temperature whereby the pool is heated. The solar panel (10) has a housing (14) for the tubing (12), and the housing (14) has a transparent screen (16) covering the tubing (12). In use, the housing (14) retains heat therewithin for increasing the temperature of the tubing (12) above that outside of the housing.

A multi-season, reversible tent adapted to accommodate prevailing solar conditions. Selected walls are constructed to include insulated liners and solar reflective and absorptive surfaces which cooperate with a longitudinal access opening. The walls assemble to an irregular triangular shape and can be reversed to optimally collect and reflect solar and thermal radiation in relation to one or more occupants and the prevailing conditions. Zippered reliefs at the door control the solar exposure of ...

A solar cell comprising a substrate of insulating material, a bottom side electrode layer formed on one surface of the substrate, a semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer formed on the bottom side electrode layer, a transparent top side electrode layer formed on the semiconductor photoelectric conversion layer and a non-transparent electrode comprising a plurality of strips of non-transparent conductive layers disposed separately from each other on the top side transparent electrode layer....

An aluminum film is formed as a photoreflective electrode at the side opposite to the light incident side of a solar cell by sputtering at a substrate temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. using a target of aluminum containing silicon as an impurity element at 0.1 to 6.0 weight %. An aluminum film or a silver film in which an impurity element is not added is formed on the above aluminum film, to obtain a texture structure having convex and concave shapes. When an organic resin film substra...

The object of the present invention is, in a solar battery where at least an electrolyte and a porous member of an oxide semiconductor retaining a pigment material are provided between a transparent electrode and a counter electrode, to obtain a high conversion efficiency by improving the contact between the transparent electrode and the porous member of the oxide semiconductor. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the solar battery according to the present invention where at least...

The present invention is directed to a solar harness apparatus which includes a plurality of solar cells with each having an active surface, that is, a surface which absorbs photons to generate electrical power, and these are arranged in a substantially parallel fashion with the active surfaces all facing the same direction and with the solar cells being stacked in line behind one another. The solar harness includes a plurality of magnets with at least one magnet being located between each adjac...

A solar cell device in which a plurality of solar cell elements are connected by interconnectors includes a metal film inserted between the electrode of the solar cell element and the interconnector, and the welded area between the metal film and the electrode is larger than the welded area between the metal film and the interconnector.