Kyocera Corporation

24m Technologies, Inc.

Other

Susumu Yoshikawa

Junji Aranami

Naoki Ota

Junzheng Chen

Ricardo Bazzarella

Raymond Zagars

Riichi Sasamori

Norihiko Matsushima

Hisashi Higuchi

Hisashi Sakai

Hirofumi Senta

Akira Murao

Akihiro Mizumoto

Takeshi Suzuki

Seigo Ito

Embodiments described herein relate to divided energy electrochemical cells and electrochemical cell systems. Divided energy electrochemical cells and electrochemical cell systems include a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell connected in parallel. Both electrochemical cells include a cathode disposed on a cathode current collector, an anode disposed on an anode current collector, and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode. In some embodiments, the first electrochemical cell can have different performance properties from the second electrochemical cell. For example, the first electrochemical cell can have a high energy density while the second electrochemical cell can have a high power density. In some embodiments, the first electrochemical cell can have a battery chemistry, thickness, or any other physical/chemical property different from those properties of the second electrochemical cell.

Divided energy electrochemical cell systems and methods of producing the same

Embodiments described herein relate generally to apparatuses and processes for forming semi-solid electrodes having high active solids loading by removing excess electrolyte. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be formed by mixing an active material and, optionally, a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte to form a suspension. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can be disposed onto a current collector to form an intermediate electrode. In some embodiments, the semi-solid electrode material can have a first composition in which the ratio of electrolyte to active material is between about 10:1 and about 1:1. In some embodiments, a method for converting the semi-solid electrode material from the first composition into the second composition includes removing a portion of the electrolyte from the semi-solid electrode material. In some embodiments, the method includes mechanically compressing the intermediate electrode to remove the portion of electrolyte from the semi-solid electrode material.

Apparatuses and processes for forming a semi-solid electrode having high active solids loading and electrochemical cells including the same

A solar cell includes elements, a connecting portion, and a transparent portion. The elements include first and second elements arrayed in a first direction. The transparent portion is located between the connecting portion and the second element. Each of the elements includes first and second electrode layers and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first and second electrode layers. Between the first element and the second element, their first electrode layers sandwich a first gap and their second electrode layers sandwich a second gap shifted in the first direction from the first gap. The connecting portion electrically connects the second electrode layer of the first element to the first electrode layer of the second element. The transparent portion is located between the second electrode layer of the first element and the first electrode layer of the second element at a position shifted in the first direction from the connecting portion.

Solar cell and method for manufacturing solar cell

The solar cell element includes a semiconductor substrate with first and second surfaces, a passivation layer located on the second surface, a protective layer located on the passivation layer, and a back-surface electrode located on the protective layer. The back-surface electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate via one or more hole portions penetrating the protective layer and the passivation layer. The protective layer includes a first region showing a tendency to increase in thickness as a distance from an inner edge portion of the hole portion and a second region surrounding the first region. A distance between a position of the first region farthest from the inner edge portion and the inner edge portion is larger than a thickness in the second region. The back-surface electrode shows a tendency to decrease in thickness on the first region as a distance from the inner edge portion.

Solar cell element and method for manufacturing solar cell element

A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, comprising: a first step of forming a buffer layer on a light absorption layer containing a group I-III-VI compound or a group I-II-IV-VI compound; and a second step of bringing a surface of the buffer layer into contact with a first solution containing sulfide ions or hydrogen sulfide ions.

Method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion device

A method for manufacturing a photoelectric converter, comprising: forming a first buffer layer comprising a metal sulfide on a light-absorbing layer comprising a Group I-III-VI compound or a Group I-II-IV-VI compound; and contacting a surface of the first buffer layer with a first solution comprising an alkali metal compound.

Method for manufacturing photoelectric converter

A multi-layer photoelectric conversion device and technology is disclosed. A first photoelectric converter is separated from a second photoelectric converter by an insulative layer. The photoelectric converters may be of a variety of types, and the insulative layer provides protection to reduce pinhole faults in the multi-layer photoelectric conversion device.

Combined photoelectric conversion device

A composite of a base and an array of needle-like crystals formed on a surface of the base is provided, in which the base side and the opposite side to the base with respect to the array can be isolated in a satisfactory manner. A compositecontains a transparent electrodeserving as the base and an arrayof needle-like crystalsformed thereon. The needle-like crystalsare made of, for example, zinc oxide. The arrayincludes a first region Ron the transparent electrodeside and a second region Ron the opposite side to the transparent electrodewith respect to the first region R. A proportion of the cross section of the needle-like crystalsin a plane parallel to the surface of the transparent electrodeis lower in the second region Rthan in the first region R, and the surface of the transparent electrodeis substantially covered with the needle-like crystalsin the first region R

Composite comprising array of needle-like crystal, method for producing the same, photovoltaic conversion element, light emitting element, and capacitor

A composite of a base and an array of needle-like crystals formed on the surface of the base is provided, in which the base side and the opposite side to the base with respect to the array can be isolated in a satisfactory manner. A compositeincludes a transparent electrodeserving as the base, an arrayof needle-like crystalsformed thereon, and a coating filmcovering the surface of the needle-like crystals. The needle-like crystalsare made of, for example, zinc oxide, and the coating filmcontains, for example, titanium oxide. The arrayincludes a first region Ron the transparent electrodeside and a second region Ron the opposite side to the transparent electrodewith respect to the first region R. A proportion of the cross section of the needle-like crystalsin a plane parallel to the surface of the transparent electrodeis lower in the second region Rthan in the first region R, and the surface of the transparent electrodeis substantially covered with the needle-like crystalsin the first region R

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Otsu, Japan

Junji Aranami