A microfabrication method is provided with which it is possible to easily form a fine periodic structure on a surface of any substrate. A glass precursor is applied to a substrate, and the glass precursor is irradiated with short-pulse laser light. By the irradiation with short-pulse laser light, the glass precursor is activated to undergo a thermal reaction, and a fine periodic structure can be easily formed on the surface. Furthermore, by oxidizing the substrate on which the fine periodic structure has been formed, the hue of the surface can be improved while maintaining the fine periodic structure.

A solar panel using a light guiding component for receiving external light includes at least one solar cell, a transparent back plate, a transparent cover plate, a light guiding component and a packaging material. The transparent back plate is located on a first side of the solar cell. The transparent cover plate is located on a second side of the solar cell for passing and projecting the light to the solar cell and the transparent back plate. The light guiding component is located on the first side of the solar cell. The packaging material is disposed between the transparent cover plate and the transparent back plate for packaging the solar cell. The solar cell is packaged between the transparent back plate and the transparent cover plate, such that after the light projects to the light guiding component, the light guiding component scatters the light.

A photovoltaic device and method include forming a plurality of pillar structures in a substrate, forming a first electrode layer on the pillar structures and forming a continuous photovoltaic stack including an N-type layer, a P-type layer and an intrinsic layer on the first electrode. A second electrode layer is deposited over the photovoltaic stack such that gaps or fissures occur in the second electrode layer between the pillar structures. The second electrode layer is wet etched to open up the gaps or fissures and reduce the second electrode layer to form a three-dimensional electrode of substantially uniform thickness over the photovoltaic stack.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a conductive structure body that comprises a darkening pattern layer having AlOxNy, and a method for manufacturing the same. The conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may prevent reflection by a conductive pattern layer without affecting conductivity of the conductive pattern layer, and improve a concealing property of the conductive pattern layer by improving absorbance. Accordingly, a display panel having improved visibility may be developed by using the conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Solar cell element with a carrier (14), a thin film layer structure on a surface of the carrier, the thin film layer structure comprises a transparent first electrode layer (20), active layers (22, 23) in which a portion of the energy of the incident light is absorbed and a second electrode layer (24), the thin film layer structure has a light reflecting rear boundary surface, and the surface of said carrier (14) comprises at least two planar surface regions that close and angle with and form continuation of each other so that between them a recess is formed, and a portion of light reflected from the rear boundary surface of a first surface region will pass through the recess to fall on the second surface region and generates additional charge carriers therein, and the thin film structure on the surface regions constitutes a uniform uninterrupted thin film structure, wherein the extent of absorption of the thin film structure in the visible spectral region of light is at most 90% of the energy of the incident light. A plurality of the solar cell elements forms a solar cell arrangement, in which the carrier (14) is common for all cell elements and a surface of the carrier (14) has a plurality of juxtaposed pyramid-like recesses on which the thin film layers are provided.

A glazing unit is provided for producing an aesthetically pleasing effect, comprising or consisting of at least one pane, said pane having a first structured surface to which a three-dimensional photonic structure is applied and the average refractive index of the photonic structure being higher than approximately 1.6 or higher than approximately 1.8 or higher than approximately 1.95. A method of producing such a glazing unit and the use thereof is also provided.

One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a transparent back cover, and a plurality of polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover. A respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure has a front surface facing the front cover and a back surface facing the back cover. The photovoltaic roof tile can further include a paint layer positioned on a back surface of the back cover facing away from the front cover. A color of the paint layer substantially matches a color of the front surface of the respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure.

A solar cell according to an embodiment includes a substrate; a barrier layer of a nano rod structure on the substrate; a back electrode layer disposed on the barrier layer; a light absorbing layer disposed on the back electrode layer; a buffer layer disposed on the light absorbing layer, and a window layer disposed on the buffer layer.

One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a transparent back cover, and a plurality of polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover. A respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure has a front surface facing the front cover and a back surface facing the back cover. The photovoltaic roof tile can further include a paint layer positioned on a back surface of the back cover facing away from the front cover. A color of the paint layer substantially matches a color of the front surface of the respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure.

A coating composition is provided comprising nanoparticles and certain polymers comprising carboxylic acid groups or salts thereof. When applied to articles, the coating is resistant to soiling by both dry dust and wet soil. Coated articles and methods of applying coatings are also described herein.