Abstract:
Collections of particles are described that include crystalline aluminum oxide selected from the group consisting of delta-A12O3 and theta-A12O3. The particles have an average diameter less than about 100 nm. The particles generally have correspondingly large BET surface areas. In certain embodiments, the particle collections are very uniform. In some embodiments, collections of particles include doped aluminum oxides particles with an average diameter less than about 500 nm. The collections of particles can be deposited as coatings. Methods are described for producing desired aluminum oxide particles.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: a photovoltaic module which exhibits a better match of current output of individual solar battery cells within the photovoltaic module; and a method of manufacturing the photovoltaic module.SOLUTION: A photovoltaic module 130 is formed by placing a plurality of differently sized solar battery cells 132 on a transparent front sheet 134. Characteristics of each of the solar battery cells 132 are estimated so that the plurality of solar battery cells 132 of the photovoltaic module 130 have similar current output. On the basis of the estimated characteristics, the size of each of the solar battery cells 132 to be placed is determined.
Abstract:
Laser pyrolysis reactor designs and corresponding reactant inlet nozzles are described to provide desirable particle quenching that is particularly suitable for the synthesis of elemental silicon particles. In particular, the nozzles can have a design to encourage nucleation and quenching with inert gas based on a significant flow of inert gas surrounding the reactant precursor flow and with a large inert entrainment flow effectively surrounding the reactant precursor and quench gas flows. Improved silicon nanoparticle inks are described that has silicon nanoparticles without any surface modification with organic compounds. The silicon ink properties can be engineered for particular printing applications, such as inkjet printing, gravure printing or screen printing. Appropriate processing methods are described to provide flexibility for ink designs without surface modifying the silicon nanoparticles.
Abstract:
Light reactive deposition uses an intense light beam (684) to form particles that are directly coated onto a substrate (680) surface. In some embodiments, a coating apparatus comprising a noncircular reactant inlet (682), optical elements forming a light path (684), a first substrate (680), and a motor connected to the apparatus. The reactant inlet (682) defines a reaction zone with a product stream path continuing from the reaction zone. The substrate (680) intersects the product stream path. Also, operation of the motor moves the first substrate (680) relative to the product stream. Various broad methods are described for using light driven chemical reactions to produce efficiently highly uniform coatings.
Abstract:
Monolithic optical structures include a plurality of layer with each layer having an isolated optical pathway confined within a portion of the layer. The monolithic optical structure can be used as an optical fiber preform. Alternatively or additionally, the monolithic optical structure can include integrated optical circuits within one or more layers of the structure. Monolithic optical structures can be formed by performing multiple passes of a substrate through a flowing particle stream. The deposited particles form an optical material following consolidation. Flexible optical fibers include a plurality of independent light channels extending along the length of the optical fiber. The fibers can be pulled from an appropriate preform.
Abstract:
Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures.