U.S. Department of Energy

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Bernard Wernsman

David Austin Parks

Marc N Palmisiano

Joseph N Fiedor

Raymond J Blasi

Lawrence G Irr

Bernhard R Tittman

A back surface reflector (BSR) is described. The BSR includes a reflecting layer, a substrate and an adhesion layer between the reflecting layer and the substrate. The adhesion layer includes 3-mercaptopropyl (trimethoxy) silane (a.k.a. Merc).

Mercapto-based coupling agent for improved thermophotovoltaic device back surface reflector adhesion and reflectance

An aluminum nitride piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer successfully operates at temperatures of up to 1000&#xb0; C. and fast (&#x3e;1 MeV) neutron fluencies of more than 10n/cm. The transducer comprises a transparent, nitrogen rich aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal wafer that is coupled to an aluminum cylinder for pulse-echo measurements. The transducer has the capability to measure in situ gamma heating within the core of a nuclear reactor.

Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment

A photovoltaic or thermophotovoltaic device includes a diode formed by p-type material and n-type material joined at a p-n junction and including a depletion region adjacent to said p-n junction, and a quantum barrier disposed near or in the depletion region of the p-n junction so as to decrease device reverse saturation current density while maintaining device short circuit current density. In one embodiment, the quantum barrier is disposed on the n-type material side of the p-n junction and decreases the reverse saturation current density due to electrons while in another, the barrier is disposed on the p-type material side of the p-n junction and decreases the reverse saturation current density due to holes. In another embodiment, both types of quantum barriers are used.

Photovoltaic and thermophotovoltaic devices with quantum barriers

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Jefferson Hills, PA, United States of America

Bernard Wernsman