摘要:
A method and a sensor to measure the sulfur activity in sulfur-containing environments are disclosed. The active component is a non-stoichiometric metal sulfide foil or film. In the case of a thin sulfide film, a ceramic substrate is employed for improved mechanical rigidity. The electrical conductivity of the sulfide is related to the sulfur activity of the process stream to which it is exposed.
摘要:
The present invention is an optically enhanced solar cell having a detached reflector. The optically enhanced solar cell includes a semiconductor material bounded on each side by transparent electrical contacts and an optional antireflection coating with the surface of at least one of these layers being textured. Light is reflected in the cell by a reflector which is detached (i.e., spaced) from the enhanced cell using a layer of dielectric material.
摘要:
A novel isotropically reinforced microcomposite is described. An entirely fluid-phase method has been devised for producing the net-shape filamentary structures. The process depends for its success on the ability to generate in situ, within a shaped mold, a three-dimensional random weave of carbon filaments by catalytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon feed. Almost any desired filament filler matrix combination can be produced by utilizing chemical vapor deposition to modify the surface and bulk properties of the filamentary structure. Infiltration of filler matrix materials can be achieved by adaptation of existing materials technologies.
摘要:
An electrochromic device having an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte sandwiched between electrodes. A charge compensator ion permeable layer is interposed between the electrochromic layer and the electrolyte. The latter-mentioned interposing layer serves as a protective overcoat for the electrochromic layer and minimizes the structural decay of the cell which might otherwise occur. SUFIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to electrochromic devices and, more particularly, to such a device having a protective overcoat layer interposed between an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTThe prior art has recognized the usefulness of electrochromic devices wherein the electromagnetic absorption characteristics may be reversibly altered by a controlled electric field. The device is particularly useful as a display device or in light valve-type applications.U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,220 issued to Meyers describes a device which consists of an electrochromic material in contact with a semisolid electrolyte gel sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. U.S. Pat. No. 28,188, issued to Deb et al, discloses a completely solid state electrochromic device which utilizes a current carrier permeable layer positioned between an electrochromic layer and a conductive layer. The reissue patent states that the structure set forth therein is an improvement over basic electrochromic cells that had previously included only an electrochromic layer sandwiched between two conductive layers. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,287, issued to Witzke et al, there is an electrochromic device which is described as including two electrochromic layers in different states and an electrolyte layer which is not limited to semisolid gels. In the Meyers and Witzke patents, the structure included an electrolyte or color assisting agent, respectively, which is described as being in direct contact with an electrochromic layer. This contact was thought necessary to insure ionic charge transport from the electrolyte to the electrochromic layer. However, these prior art structures have been found to lack a certain desirable cycling capability of lifetime due to an observable decay in the cell due to a deterioration of the electrochromic layer -- electrolyte interface, which is due to the contact therebetween.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a novel structure for extending the life of an electrochromic device, having an electrolyte or color assisting agent, by interposing a protective overcoat layer between the electrolyte or color assisting agent and the electrochromic layer. More particularly, the electrochromic device comprises a pair of electrodes, there being between the electrodes at least one layer of electrochromic material, an electrolyte layer, and a protective overcoat layer between the electrochromic layer and the electrolyte layer. The protective overcoat layer is a substantially insulating dielectric layer. Normally, one would expect that the placement of a substantially insulating dielectric layer separating the electrochromic layer and the electrolyte would inhibit the necessary current flow of the device and be detrimental to the normal operation of the device. Contrary to this, an unexpected synergistic result is obtained. It has been discovered that the insertion of certain substantially insulating materials in the form of thin films not only does not adversely affect the operation of the device, but rather substantially increases the life of the device by inhibiting attack and degradation of the electrochromic layer.
摘要:
A sealed device includes an electrode having a semiconductor thin film coating. A liquid electrolyte contacts the thin film to form a photoactive interface which converts light energy to electrical energy. A counterelectrode is positioned in spaced relation to the electrode and also contacts the electrolyte. Leads are connected to the electrode and counterelectrode so that a load may be driven by the device when the device is exposed to light.
摘要:
A photogalvanic cell includes a conducting SnO.sub.2 electrode upon which is deposited a semi-transparent film of Ti. A metal oxide thin film, such as TiO.sub.2 is in turn deposited upon the semi-transparent Ti thin film. An aqueous (acid or base) electrolyte contacts the metal oxide thin film to form a photoactive site for converting light to electrical energy. The semi-transparent film reduces the internal resistance of the cell by assisting charge transfer between the metal oxide film and the electrode. Also, use of a semi-transparent film permits bi-directional irradiation of the cell to increase photoconversion efficiency.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a novel process for producing silicon and/or aluminum containing iron alloy product as well as the material produced from same in either sheet or bulk structure form for electromagnetic circuit application. The process entails modifying an iron feedstock containing less than about 2.5 wt % silicon, aluminum or a combination thereof. The process further consists of diffusion of silicon or silicon and aluminum or aluminum into an iron feedstock by a pack diffusion or a chemical vapor deposition method in which the iron feedstock is heated to a temperature at which diffusion occurs in the presence of a pack containing silicon and/or aluminum sources, a reducing agent, a catalyst, and a filler, or in the presence of a flowing gas stream containing a volatile silicon compound. The resulting iron alloy product, which has a silicon content in the range of 0.25%--7% silicon, and an aluminum content in the range of about 0%--4% aluminum, has favorable properties for motor and transformer applications.
摘要:
Novel ceramic filamentary micro-tubular materials are described. An entirely, fluid-phase method has been devised for producing such interwoven ceramic filamentary tubular materials. The process depends for its success the ability to generate a three-dimensional random weave of ceramic tubes, with diameters in the range of about 0.01 to 2.0 microns, by forming carbon filaments by catalytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon feed, coating the filaments with a ceramic coating and then oxidizing the coated filaments to remove the carbon core leaving behind hollow ceramic micro-tubular filaments. The ceramic micro-tubular materials may be free-standing porous structures and may have a variety of uses as thermal insulators, catalyst supports, superconductor supports, filters or as reinforcements for composites.
摘要:
The present invention is a method for producing an optically enhanced thin film photovoltaic device.The method includes the steps of producing an active layer of semiconductor material wherein the surface of at least one side of the active layer is textured such that the surface includes randomly spaced, densely packed microstructures of predetermined dimensions of the order of the wavelength of visible light in the semiconductor material and attaching a reflecting surface directly to one side of the semiconductor material and making an ohmic contact to the material.
摘要:
A charge storing photogalvanic cell including spaced electrode and counterelectrode "sandwiching" a charge storage layer and a compensating layer. Various dopants to the charge storage layer have been determined to vary cell performance as follows: increasing photosensitivity and charge retention; increasing electrical response; increasing device life; decreasing charge retention; changing optical absorption of charge storage layer; or localizing destruction of charge storage capability.