A multifunctional solid-state photovoltachromic device (1) comprising at least one n-type layer (8) and at least one p-type layer (11) arranged to create a PN or PIN junction, said n-type layer (8) and p-type layer (11) comprising materials arranged to act as mixed conductors, thus allowing both charge transport and ion conduction.

Present invention discloses a microfluidic energy harvester for converting solar energy into electrical energy. A preferred embodiment of the present microfluidic energy harvester includes a substrate having an embedded central microchannel, electrolyte configured to reside and/or flow in said central microchannel and electrode assembly having one or more pair of electrodes arranged in a series and integrated with said central microchannel from sides ensuring direct contact between said pair for electrodes with said electrolyte while it reside and/or flow in said central microchannel for ensuing electrochemical photovoltaic effect to convert the solar energy into the electrical energy under direct solar illumination by working under regenerative conditions. The microfluidic energy harvester is capable of producing high density power from three different resources, (a) the solar irradiation produces a photovoltaic potential difference between the metal/metal-oxide electrodes, (b) SPR of the metal nanoparticles suspended in the electrolyte amplifies the photovoltaic potential difference under solar irradiation, and (c) the flow of the nanoparticle laden electrolyte produces a streaming potential between the electrodes by converting the mechanical energy into the electrical one near the electrodes. The transparency of the polymer and adequate absorptivity of the metal/metal-oxide electrodes ensured facile absorption of solar irradiation in the microfluidic energy harvester. The flexibility of the MEH can be tuned by adjusting the cross-linking of the PDMS matrix. The multiplicity of the microchannels and electrodes are expected to increase the total amount of energy harvested.

Iron-based photosensitizers, which can be used for solar energy conversion and photoluminescence applications, include an iron complex with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands (FeNHC), a linking unit, and a polarizable unit formed of a pi conjugated structure having a one-electron reduction potential more positive than NHC.

Photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, hybrid solar cell-batteries, and other such devices may include an active layer disposed between two electrodes. The active layer may have perovskite material and other material such as mesoporous material, interfacial layers, thin-coat interfacial layers, and combinations thereof. The perovskite material may be photoactive. The perovskite material may be disposed between two or more other materials in the photovoltaic device. Inclusion of these materials in various arrangements within an active layer of a photovoltaic device may improve device performance. Other materials may be included to further improve device performance, such as, for example: additional perovskites, and additional interfacial layers.

Various perovskite solar cell embodiments include a flexible metal substrate (e.g., including a metal doped TiO.sub.2 layer), a perovskite layer, and a transparent electrode layer (e.g., including a dielectric/metal/dielectric structure), wherein the perovskite layer is provided between the flexible metal substrate and the transparent electrode layer. Also, various tandem solar cell embodiments including a perovskite solar cell and either a quantum dot solar cell, and organic solar cell or a thin film solar cell.

The present disclosure may provide semiconductor perovskite layers and method of making thereof. In some cases, the perovskite layer may comprise a composition of MA.sub.n1FA.sub.n2Cs.sub.n3PbX.sub.3. MA may be methylammonium, FA may be formamidinium, n1, n2, and n3 may independently be greater than 0 and less than 1, and n1+n2+n3 may equal 1.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a porous core-shell catalyst structure. The method of manufacturing a porous core-shell catalyst structure includes preparing a bulk metal oxide; providing a first reaction gas containing nitrogen to the bulk metal oxide to prepare an intermediate product containing a porous metal oxide; and providing a second reaction gas containing sulfur to the intermediate product to prepare a core-shell catalyst structure including a core formed of the porous metal oxide and a shell formed of metal sulfide.

A photovoltaic device comprises plural layers separated into plural cells, each comprising a region of a photoactive layer and electrodes on opposite sides thereof. Each of the regions of the photoactive layer are formed comprising a first part that comprises photoactive material and a second part that is not photoactive and that has a greater transmittance of visible light than the light absorbing photoactive material, in pre-selected locations, or in a pre-selected distribution of locations, across the region of the photoactive layer. One of the first and second parts are located in plural separate areas within the other of the first and second parts. The transparency of the photovoltaic device is increased by the transmission of light through the second part that is not photoactive.

A photoelectric conversion element may include a first substrate, a first transparent electrode disposed on the first substrate, a hole-blocking layer disposed on the first transparent electrode, an electron-transporting layer that is disposed on the hole-blocking layer and includes an electron-transporting semiconductor on a surface of which a photosensitizing compound is adsorbed, a hole-transporting layer that is connected to the electron-transporting layer and includes a hole-transporting material, and a second electrode disposed on the hole-transporting layer, wherein the photoelectric conversion element includes an output extraction terminal part configured to extract electricity out from the photoelectric conversion element, and the output extraction terminal part is formed with a plurality of micropores piercing through the hole-blocking layer.

A method for fabricating a film on a substrate and a method for controlling the heating rate of a plurality of nanoparticles to transform the plurality of nanoparticles into a plurality of nanorods and nano-cone structures includes the steps of providing a sol precursor, providing a substrate, depositing the sol precursor onto the substrate via a sol-gel technique, annealing the sol precursor under ambient pressure at a controlled heating rate, and cooling down the sol precursor to form a film.