USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Edward E Foos

Arthur W Snow

Troy K Townsend

Mario Ancona

Eddie L Chang

Woojun Yoon

Joseph G Tischler

Sulay Jhaveri

Richard Jason Jouet

The method of the present invention improves mechanical integrity of a crystalline silicon solar cell having an exposed layer of n-type silicon. A solution of electrically-conductive nanowires in an inert liquid is sprayed onto the exposed layer in order to form a grid pattern of the nanowires on the exposed layer after the inert liquid dries or evaporates.

Method for improving mechanical integrity of crystalline silicon solar cells

An inorganic nanocrystal solar cell comprising a substrate, a layer of metal, a layer of CdTe, a layer of CdSe, and a layer of transparent conductor. An inorganic nanocrystal solar cell comprising a transparent conductive substrate, a layer of CdSe, a layer of CdTe, and a Au contact. A method of spray deposition for inorganic nanocrystal solar cells comprising subjecting a first solution of CdTe or CdSe nanocrystals to ligand exchange with a small coordinating molecule, diluting the first solution in solvent to form a second solution, applying the second solution to a substrate, drying the substrate, dipping the substrate in a solution in MeOH of a compound that promotes sintering, washing the substrate with iPrOH, drying the substrate with N, and heating and forming a film on the substrate.

Inorganic nanocrystal solar cells

A technique is described depositing a new formula of indium and tin salt solutions as a precursor to form a solid transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) film on non-conductive solid substrates. The utilization of this new composition of matter prompted the discovery of a method for preparing the first top-to-bottom completely solution processed solar cell. The specific patterning of the liquid-processed ITO precursor solution and the subsequent layers of a solar cell outlined here also demonstrate a unique way to connect solution processed (as opposed to deposited using vacuum techniques) solar cells in series and in parallel. Also disclosed are related methods for zinc tin oxide (ZTO), indium oxide (IO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), cadmium tin oxide (CTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), and zinc oxide (ZO).

Spray deposition method for inorganic nanocrystal solar cells

This disclosure concerns a method of making nanowires in a single flask and in non-coordinating solvent involving the reaction of PbO with oleic acid to produce Pb oleate, heating the Pb oleate to a preferred temperature with additional coordinating ligands, injecting a solution of Se to produce a second solution, heating the second solution, and maintaining the temperature, resulting in nucleation and growth of PbSe nanowires.

Method for the formation of PbSe nanowires in non-coordinating solvent

This disclosure concerns a metal oxide surface treatment with a fluoroalkyl silanizing agent.

Metal oxide surface treatment with a fluoroalkyl silanizing agent

The compound is a silane surface treatment agent and is useful for modifying the surfaces of silicon oxide and other metal oxides with hexafluorodimethyl carbinol functional groups. Additionally provided is a surface treatment procedure that effectively bonds it and other alkoxysilanes via homogeneous and heterogeneous amine catalysis onto metal oxide surfaces.

Fluoroalkyl carbinol generating silane surface treatment agents

A method of making a nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA strand comprising the steps of providing nanoclusters, combining said nanoclusters with thiolated DNA, incubating said nanoclusters and thiolated DNA mixture, combining said mixture with a solution comprising ethanol and dichloromethane; separating said mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, mixing said aqueous phase with a solution comprising dicholormethane and NaCl, and separating the mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase; wherein said organic phase comprises said nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA strand. Further, provided is a nanocluster functionalized with a single DNA strand comprising a nanocluster, said nanocluster being functionalized with a single DNA strand, said DNA strand having a length of about 10 to about 50 bases.

Trioxyethylene gold nanoclusters functionalized with a single DNA

A thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer and the method of substituting the oligomer onto a gold nanocluster surface using a thiol-exchange reaction to form a charge-neutral, non-ionizable, water soluble, ethylene oxide protected gold nanocluster. The thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer has the formula CH(OCHCH)SH where x varies from one to ten. Also disclosed is the related method of making the thiol terminated ethylene oxide oligomer.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Edward E Foos