The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive M.sub.n+1X.sub.n(T.sub.s) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

In a method of manufacturing a solar cell, a groove is formed on a first surface of an n-type semiconductor substrate. A p-side transparent conductive film layer is formed on the first surface of the n-type semiconductor substrate formed with the groove. A non-deposition area, where the p-side transparent conductive film layer is not formed, is formed in at least a part of a side surface of the groove formed on the first surface of the n-type semiconductor substrate.

There are provided a transparent conductive film, as well as a heater, a touch panel, a solar battery, an organic EL device, a liquid crystal device, and an electronic paper that are provided with the transparent conductive film, the transparent conductive film being capable of easing a decline in optical transmittance when graphene is laminated, and of achieving optical transmittance higher than an upper limit of optical transmittance of a single layer of graphene. The transparent conductive film includes a single-layered conductive graphene sheet. The single-layered conductive graphene sheet includes a first region and a second region, the first region being configured of graphene, and the second region being surrounded by the first region and having optical transmittance that is higher than optical transmittance of the first region.

According to the embodiment, there is provided a solar cell including: a back electrode layer; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer; and a front electrode layer on the buffer layer, wherein the front electrode layer comprises an intrinsic region and a doping region having a conductive dopant, and a concentration of the conductive dopant is gradually lowered in upward and downward directions from an excess doping region of the doping region.

A graphene sheet including an intercalation compound and 2 to about 300 unit graphene layers, wherein each of the unit graphene layers includes a polycyclic aromatic molecule in which a plurality of carbon atoms in the polycyclic aromatic molecule are covalently bonded to each other; and wherein the intercalation compound is interposed between the unit graphene layers.

A metal-chalcogenide photovoltaic device includes a first electrode, a window layer spaced apart from the first electrode, and a photon-absorption layer between the first electrode and the window layer. The photon-absorption layer includes a metal-chalcogenide semiconductor. The window layer includes a layer of metal-oxide nanoparticles, and at least a portion of the window layer provides a second electrode that is substantially transparent to light within a range of operating wavelengths of the metal-chalcogenide photovoltaic device. A method of producing a metal-chalcogenide photovoltaic device includes providing a photovoltaic substructure, providing a solution of metal-oxide nanoparticles, and forming a window layer on the substructure using the solution of metal-oxide nanoparticles such that the window layer includes a layer of metal-oxide nanoparticles formed by a solution process.

Method of manufacturing a transparent electrically conductive substrate having an application process whereby a wet layer is formed by applying onto a substrate film a coating liquid comprising metallic nanowires dispersed in a solvent, and a drying process whereby the solvent contained in the abovementioned wet layer is removed by drying, characterised in that the abovementioned drying process includes a process whereby the orientation of the abovementioned metallic nanowires is altered by introducing a forced draft facing towards the substrate from a direction that is different from the longitudinal direction of the substrate film.

A solar cell of the present invention includes a collecting electrode extending in one direction on a first principal surface of a photoelectric conversion section. The collecting electrode includes first and second electroconductive layers in this order from the photoelectric conversion section side, and further includes an insulating layer provided with openings between the electroconductive layers. The first electroconductive layer is covered with the insulating layer, and the second electroconductive layer is partially in conduction with the first electroconductive layer through the openings of the insulating layer. The first electroconductive layer has non-central portions within a range from both ends of the first electroconductive layer, and a central portion between the two non-central portions, in a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the first electroconductive layer. A density of openings at the central portion is higher than a density of openings at the non-central portion.

A photodetector based on PtSe.sub.2 and a silicon nanopillar array includes a PMMA light-transmitting protective layer, a graphene transparent top electrode, a silicon nanopillar array structure coated with few-layer PtSe.sub.2, and metal electrodes of the graphene transparent top electrode and the silicon nanopillar array structure. A method for preparing the photodetector includes steps of: preparing graphene with a CVD method; preparing a silicon nanopillar array structure through dry etching; coating few-layer PtSe.sub.2 on surfaces of the silicon nano-pillar array structure through laser interference enhanced induction CVD; preparing graphene transparent top electrode; and magnetron-sputtering metal electrodes. The photodetector prepared by the present invention has a detection range from visible light to near-infrared wavebands. The silicon nanopillar array structure enhances light absorption of the detector, so that the detector has high sensitivity, simple structure and strong practicability.

A solar cell panel includes a first solar cell and a second solar cell; and a plurality of leads connecting the first solar cell and the second solar cell. Each of the first solar cell and the second solar cell includes: a first electrode including a plurality of finger lines in a first direction and a plurality of first bus bars in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a second electrode including a plurality of second bus bars in the second direction. The plurality of leads have a diameter or width of 100 to 500 μm, and include 6 or more leads arranged at one surface side of the first or second solar cell. The plurality of leads are connected to the plurality of first bus bars of the first solar cell and the plurality of second bus bars of the second solar cell by a solder layer, respectively.