A semi-translucent photovoltaic device is described having a translucent substrate with a photovoltaic stack interrupted in spatially distributed openings filled with a translucent polymer. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the device. The method comprises providing the substrate at a first side with the photovoltaic stack; removing material from the stack in spatially distributed regions, therewith forming openings within these regions; blanket-wise depositing a protective layer over the substrate with the photovoltaic stack; blanket-wise depositing a layer of a radiation-curable precursor for the translucent polymer over the protective layer; irradiating the substrate from a second side opposite its first side to therewith selectively cure the radiation-curable precursor within and in front of the spatially distributed openings, the radiation-curable precursor being converted therewith into said translucent polymer; removing an uncured remainder of the layer of the radiation-curable precursor.

An energy storage device comprising a substrate comprising a series of grooves. Each groove having a first and a second face. Wherein there is a capacitor material in each groove of the series of grooves.

A solar generator can include a photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator with a cathode to receive solar radiation. The photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator can include an anode that in conjunction with the cathode generates a first current and waste heat from the solar radiation. A thermoelectric generator can be thermally coupled to the anode and can convert the waste heat from the anode into a second current. A circuit can connect to the photon-enhanced thermionic emission generator and to the thermoelectric generator and can combine the first and the second currents into an output current.

Graphene photodetectors capable of operating in the sub-bandgap region relative to the bandgap of semiconductor nanoparticles, as well as methods of manufacturing the same, are provided. A photodetector can include a layer of graphene, a layer of semiconductor nanoparticles, a dielectric layer, a supporting medium, and a packaging layer. The semiconductor nanoparticles can be semiconductors with bandgaps larger than the energy of photons meant to be detected.

A device includes chalcogenide nanoparticles and a light-sensitive material configured to absorb upconverted light generated by the chalcogenide nanoparticles. A method includes receiving, at chalcogenide nanoparticles, input light having a first wavelength; and upconverting the input light using the chalcogenide nanoparticles, to generate output light having a second wavelength, in which the second wavelength is less than the first wavelength. A device includes a transparent material, the transparent material being transparent to at least one of infrared light and visible light, and chalcogenide nanoparticles embedded in the transparent material.

The present invention concerns a device for room temperature reverse-bias operation photo-detection. The device comprising:—a planar first electrode extending in a planar direction;—a second electrode positioned above the first electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to said planar direction; and—an active region sandwiched between the first and second electrode. The active region consists of a light absorbing perovskite and wherein the light absorbing perovskite is in direct contact with at least one of the first and second electrodes.

A flexible solar array for extraterrestrial deployment and a method of manufacturing such a flexible solar array are disclosed. A power generating layer, a durable layer, and an ultraviolet radiation blocking layer are disposed such that durable layer is between the power generating layer and the ultraviolet radiation blocking layer.

The present invention relates to a photoelectrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell including inorganic nanoparticles, wherein a three-dimensional pattern is formed on the surface of the photoelectrode. The three-dimensional photoelectrode for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to the present invention has a micrometer-sized pattern and thus exhibits an improved light absorption caused by a total reflection and a increased light path.

A method of growing a III-V semiconductor compound film for a semiconductor device including the steps of depositing a textured oxide buffer layer on an inexpensive substrate, depositing a metal-inorganic film from a eutectic alloy on the buffer layer, the metal being a component of a III-V compound and forming a layer on the inorganic film on which additional elements from the III-V compound are added, forming a top layer of a tandem solar cell.

A solar cell system and a flexible solar panel are disclosed herein. The solar cell system includes a glass housing, a set of rows of solar cells each defining a front side and a rear side and arranged within the glass housing. The solar cell system can also include a reflective element disposed in the glass housing and facing the rear side of the set of rows of solar cells and a first terminal coupled to a first end of the set of rows of solar cells, traversing through and sealed against the first end of the glass housing. The solar cell system can be configured with other solar cell systems into the flexible solar panel that is deployable in a wide range of potential applications.