According to one embodiment, a photochemical reaction system comprises a CO.sub.2 production unit, a CO.sub.2 absorption unit, and a CO.sub.2 reduction unit. The CO.sub.2 reduction unit comprises a laminated body and an ion transfer pathway. The laminated body comprises an oxidation catalyst layer producing O.sub.2 and H.sup.+ by oxidizing H.sub.2O, a reduction catalyst layer producing carbon compounds by reducing CO.sub.2 absorbed by the CO.sub.2 absorption unit, and a semiconductor layer formed between the oxidation catalyst layer and the reduction catalyst layer and develops charge separation with light energy. The ion transfer pathways make ions move between the oxidation catalyst layer side and the reduction catalyst layer side.

According to one embodiment, a photochemical reaction device comprises a laminated body and an ion transfer pathway. A laminated body comprises an oxidation catalyst layer for producing oxygen and protons by oxidizing water a reduction catalyst layer for producing carbon compounds by reducing carbon dioxide and a semiconductor layer formed between the oxidation catalyst layer and the reduction catalyst layer and developing charge separation with light energy. An ion transfer pathway moves ions between the oxidation catalyst layer side and the reduction catalyst layer side.

This disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices. Particularly, the disclosure relates to back-contact-only multijunction solar cells and the process flows for making such solar cells, including a wet etch process that removes semiconductor materials non-selectively without major differences in etch rates between heteroepitaxial III-V semiconductor layers.

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide apparatus and methods for altering the flow and pressure differential of process gases supplied across a showerhead of a processing chamber to provide improved deposition uniformity across the surface of a substrate disposed therein. In one embodiment, a blocker plate is disposed between a backing plate and a showerhead. In one embodiment, the distance between the blocker plate and the showerhead is adjustable. In another embodiment, the blocker plate has a non-planar surface contour. In another embodiment, a regional blocker plate is disposed between a backing plate and a showerhead. In another embodiment, a central blocker plate and a peripheral blocker plate are disposed between a backing plate and a showerhead.

There is provided a hydrogen production device which is high in the light use efficiency and can produce hydrogen with high efficiency without decreasing the hydrogen generation rate. The hydrogen production device according to the present invention comprises: a photoelectric conversion part having a light acceptance surface and a back surface; a first gas generation part and a second gas generation part provided on the back surface, wherein one of the first gas generation part and the second gas generation part is a hydrogen generation part to generate H.sub.2 from an electrolytic solution, and the other thereof is an oxygen generation part to generate O.sub.2 from the electrolytic solution, and at least one of the first gas generation part and the second gas generation part is plural, and the photoelectric conversion part is electrically connected to the first gas generation part and the second gas generation part so that an electromotive force generated by a light acceptance of the photoelectric conversion part is supplied to the first gas generation part and the second gas generation part.

According to one embodiment, a photochemical reaction device comprises a laminated body and an ion transfer pathway. A laminated body comprises an oxidation catalyst layer for producing oxygen and protons by oxidizing water a reduction catalyst layer for producing carbon compounds by reducing carbon dioxide and a semiconductor layer formed between the oxidation catalyst layer and the reduction catalyst layer and developing charge separation with light energy. An ion transfer pathway moves ions between the oxidation catalyst layer side and the reduction catalyst layer side.

An apparatus and method pertaining to a perpetual energy harvester. The harvester absorbs ambient infrared radiation and provides continual power regardless of the environment. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a semiconductor thermal harvester.

An apparatus and method pertaining to a perpetual energy harvester. The harvester absorbs ambient infrared radiation and provides continual power regardless of the environment. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a semiconductor thermal harvester.

Disclosed is a method for fabricating a solar module. The method involves providing a single processing tool (which may be a system) a plurality of tandem solar cells, electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) and a protective assembly. The tool produces an assembled lay-up of protected, interconnected, partially cured cells by forming a string by aligning the cells and applying ECA to both sides of the cells, placing the string on the protective assembly, and pre-curing the ECA at low temperature (80 C.-150 C.). Thereafter, external connections are formed, a protective assembly is applied to a second side of each cell, opposite the first side, and the lay-up is laminated to produce a solar module

Disclosed is a method for fabricating a solar module. The method involves providing a single processing tool (which may be a system) a plurality of tandem solar cells, electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) and a protective assembly. The tool produces an assembled lay-up of protected, interconnected, partially cured cells by forming a string by aligning the cells and applying ECA to both sides of the cells, placing the string on the protective assembly, and pre-curing the ECA at low temperature (80 C.-150 C.). Thereafter, external connections are formed, a protective assembly is applied to a second side of each cell, opposite the first side, and the lay-up is laminated to produce a solar module