A method of producing semiconductor nanoparticles is provided. The method includes heating primary semiconductor nanoparticles and a salt of an element M.sup.1 in a solvent at a temperature set in a range of 100° C. to 300° C. The primary semiconductor nanoparticles contain the element M.sup.1, an element M.sup.2, optionally an element M.sup.3, and an element Z, and have an average particle size of 50 nm or less. The element M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, and Au. The element M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, and Tl. The element M.sup.3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn and Cd. The element Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te.

A method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell, may include forming by physical vapor deposition at least one layer of an electrode material film on both a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, to give a first electrode layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, to give a second electrode layer, and patterning the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each in a strip-like shape such that the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer both extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction by removing a part of the electrode material film.

Methods of making a semiconductor layer from nanocrystals are disclosed. A film of nanocrystals capped with a ligand can be deposited onto a substrate; and the nanocrystals can be irradiated with one or more pulses of light. The pulsed light can be used to substantially remove the ligands from the nanocrystals and leave the nanocrystals unsintered or sintered, thereby providing a semiconductor layer. Layered structures comprising these semiconductor layers with an electrode are also disclosed. Devices comprising such layered structures are also disclosed.

Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.

Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.

A shielding element comprises a rigid substrate and at least one electrically conductive two-dimensional structure which is placed on one of the faces of the substrate. The substrate and the electrically conductive two-dimensional structure are such that the shielding element has optical-transmission and shielding-efficiency values at least one of which varies between two zones of the shielding element. Such a shielding element enables easier assembly of a detection system comprising multiple optical sensors.

The method for fabricating an electrochemical device includes the following successive steps: a first stack successively including a first electrode and an electrically insulating electrolyte having a first main surface in contact with the first electrode and an opposite second main surface; a polymerisation step of the electrolyte so as to define at least a first area presenting a first degree of cross-linking and a first cross-linking density and a second area presenting a second degree of cross-linking different from the first degree of cross-linking and/or a second cross-linking density different from the first cross-linking density, said at least first and second areas connecting the first main surface with the second main surface; and placing the second electrode in contact with the electrolyte.

The method for fabricating an electrochemical device includes the following successive steps: a first stack successively including a first electrode and an electrically insulating electrolyte having a first main surface in contact with the first electrode and an opposite second main surface; a polymerisation step of the electrolyte so as to define at least a first area presenting a first degree of cross-linking and a first cross-linking density and a second area presenting a second degree of cross-linking different from the first degree of cross-linking and/or a second cross-linking density different from the first cross-linking density, said at least first and second areas connecting the first main surface with the second main surface; and placing the second electrode in contact with the electrolyte.

Disclosed are phototransistors, and more specifically a detector that includes two or more phototransistors, conductively isolated from each other. Embodiments also relate to methods of making the detector.

To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor. Further to provide a highly reliable light-emitting device including an oxide semiconductor. A second electrode sealed together with a semiconductor element including an oxide semiconductor hardly becomes inactive. A hydrogen ion and/or a hydrogen molecule produced by reaction of the active second electrode with moisture remaining in the semiconductor device and/or moisture entering from the outside of the device increase the carrier concentration in the oxide semiconductor, which causes a reduction in the reliability of the semiconductor device. An adsorption layer of a hydrogen ion and/or a hydrogen molecule may be provided on the other surface side of the second electrode having one surface in contact with the organic layer. Further, an opening which a hydrogen ion and/or a hydrogen molecule passes through may be provided for the second electrode.