Abstract:
A novel method is described to create low-relief texture at a light-facing surface or a back surface of a photovoltaic cell. The peak-to-valley height and average peak-to-peak distance of the textured surface is less than about 1 microns, for example less than about 0.8 micron, for example about 0.5 microns or less. In a completed photovoltaic device, average reflectance for light having wavelength between 375 and 1010 nm at a light-facing surface with this texture is 6 percent or less, for example about 5 percent or less, in some instances about 3.5 percent. This texture is produced by forming an optional oxide layer at the surface, lightly buffing the surface, and etching with a crystallographically selective etch. Excellent texture may be produced by etching for as little as twelve minutes or less. Very little silicon, for example about 0.3 mg/cm2 or less, is lost at the textured surface during this etch.
Abstract:
A sensing system includes a nanowire, a passivation layer established on at least a portion of the nanowire, and a barrier layer established on the passivation layer.
Abstract:
A plasmonic conveyor, system and method of plasmonic conveyance employ a surface plasmon that is controllably moved on a surface of a plasmonic element. The conveyor includes a first plasmonic element and a second plasmonic element that individually supports a respective surface plasmon. The conveyor further includes a controller that provides controlled movement of a location of the respective surface plasmon on a surface of the plasmonic element. The controlled movement facilitates translocation of an analyte particle around a periphery of the respective plasmonic element using a high field region of the respective surface plasmon. The system includes the conveyor and an excitation signal source that provides an excitation signal having one or both of a polarization and a frequency that are controllably variable. The method includes exciting a surface plasmon with the excitation signal and moving a location of the excited surface plasmon.
Abstract:
The invention provides an adjustable showerhead that provides a variety of distinct discharge water patterns. The showerhead features a ceramic disk assembly that provide long-life and reliable operation to the showerhead. The showerhead includes a wand having a receiver with a discharge outlet and a depending lug. The disk assembly includes an upper ceramic disk fixedly positioned within the receiver, and has a curvilinear groove and a water inlet hole that receives water from the wand's discharge outlet. A lower ceramic disk is movably positioned within the receiver against the upper disk, and has a plurality of outlet holes arrayed along the periphery. A bushing resides within a central opening of the lower disk and operably connects the lower disk to the receiver. An outlet assembly is operably connected to the lower disk, and includes an inner faceplate with a plurality of discharge outlets, and an outer faceplate with a plurality of discharge outlets. An adjusting ring is operably connected to the lower disk. An operator rotates the adjusting ring to move the showerhead between various disk positions to attain the desired water discharge pattern.
Abstract:
Various aspects of the present invention are directed to electric-field-enhancement structures and detection apparatuses that employ such electric-field-enhancement structures. In one aspect of the present invention, an electric-field-enhancement structure includes a substrate having a surface. The substrate is capable of supporting a planar mode having a planar-mode frequency. A plurality of nanofeatures is associated with the surface, and each of nanofeatures exhibits a localized-surface-plasmon mode having a localized-surface-plasmon frequency approximately equal to the planar-mode frequency.
Abstract:
A multi-tiered network for gathering detected condition information includes a first tier having first tier nodes and a second tier having a second tier node. The second tier node is operable to receive detected condition information from at least one of the first tier nodes in a substantially autonomous manner. In addition, the second tier node is operable to at least one of store, process, and transmit the detected condition information. The network also includes a third tier having a third tier node configured to receive the detected condition information and to at least one of store and process the detected condition information.
Abstract:
Various embodiment of the present invention are directed to organic molecules that are reconfigurable under application of an external electric field. One organic molecule embodiment of the present invention has the structure: where L1X1 and L2X2 are optional connector groups, A represents an electron acceptor group, D represents an electron donor group, R and R′ represent spacer molecules, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 represent atoms and hydrocarbons.
Abstract translation:本发明的各种实施方案涉及在外部电场的应用下可重新配置的有机分子。 本发明的一个有机分子实施方案具有以下结构:其中L 1 X 1和X 2 X 2 X 2 是可选的连接基团,A表示电子受体基团,D表示电子给体基团,R和R'表示间隔基分子,R 1,R 2, R 3,R 4,R 5,R 6,R 7和R 7, 8 SUB>表示原子和烃。
Abstract:
Raman systems include a radiation source, a radiation detector configured to detect Raman scattered radiation, and a Raman signal-enhancing structure. The Raman signal-enhancing structure includes a first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material, a substantially monomolecular layer of molecules disposed on at least a portion of the first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material, and a second layer of Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on at least a portion of the substantially monomolecular layer of molecules. The second layer of Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on a side of the layer of molecules opposite the first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material. Methods of performing Raman spectroscopy include providing such a Raman signal-enhancing structure, providing an analyte on the Raman signal-enhancing structure, irradiating the analyte and the structure, and detecting Raman scattered radiation.
Abstract:
NERS-active structures for use in Raman spectroscopy include protrusions extending from a surface of a substrate. A Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on at least one surface of a first protrusion and at least one surface of a second protrusion. The Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the first protrusion projects laterally in a direction generally towards the second protrusion, and the Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the second protrusion projects laterally in a direction generally towards the first protrusion. At least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing projecting from the first protrusion and at least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing material projecting from the second protrusion may be separated by a distance of less than about 10 nanometers. Raman spectroscopy systems include such NERS-active structures, and methods for performing Raman spectroscopy include irradiating an analyte proximate such a NERS-active structure and detecting Raman-scattered radiation scattered by the analyte.
Abstract:
NERS-active structures for use in Raman spectroscopy include protrusions extending from a surface of a substrate. A Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on at least one surface of a first protrusion and at least one surface of a second protrusion. The Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the first protrusion projects laterally in a direction generally towards the second protrusion, and the Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on the second protrusion projects laterally in a direction generally towards the first protrusion. At least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing projecting from the first protrusion and at least a portion of the Raman signal-enhancing material projecting from the second protrusion may be separated by a distance of less than about 10 nanometers. Raman spectroscopy systems include such NERS-active structures, and methods for performing Raman spectroscopy include irradiating an analyte proximate such a NERS-active structure and detecting Raman-scattered radiation scattered by the analyte.