A procedure was developed to assign energy ratings to a photovoltaic (PV) module for five reference days that represent different climates.

The structure and effects of extended defects in rapid deposited polycrystalline Si thin films were studied using a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and first-principles total energy calculations.

An experimental study of the combustion of two isomers of pentane, n-pentane and iso-pentane, in laminar cool flames has been carried out. Three flames were studied, one with n-pentane, the second with iso-pentane, and the third with an equimolar mixture of the two isomers. Particular attention has been given to the low temperature region ahead of the hot region of the flame and the cool flame chemistry occurring there. A unique experimental facility has been used to provide access to this cool flame region. Comparisons are made of the structures of the three flames, with particular attention on the different intermediate species produced and the correlations between the fuel molecule structure and the specific intermediates produced.

United States high-level nuclear waste from nuclear weapons production, naval propulsion programs, and the processing of commercial spent nuclear fuels is scheduled for immobilization in glass waste forms prior to permanent disposal in a mined geologic repository. Considerable attention has been directed to assessments of the subsequent long-term release of radionuclides from a repository under saturated and partially saturated conditions. Credible predictions of dose from a repository rely on insights to radionuclide sequestration in the glass, mechanisms of glass degradation, and radionuclide solubility and transport in the near-field. Underground nuclear test sites offer an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate processes relevant to repository performance in the absence of engineered barriers. Radionuclide migration programs at the Nevada Test Site represent a twenty-five year investment in the systematic investigation of the diverse radiologic source term from weapons testing and the evolution of the hydrologic source term which includes radionuclides dissolved in or otherwise available for transport by groundwater. The geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of the Nevada Test Site which includes the proposed Yucca Mountain repository provides an ideal natural laboratory to assess long-term radionuclide transport in the near and far-field. The Yucca Mountain repository shares with adjacent testing areas the following features: correlative …

Internal combustion engines, both spark ignition and Diesel, are dominant types of vehicle power sources and also provide power for other important stationary applications. Overall, these engines are a central part of power generation in modern society. However, these engines, burning hydrocarbon fuels from natural gas to gasoline and Diesel fuel, are also responsible for a great deal of pollutant emissions to the environment, especially oxides of nitrogen (NO{sub x}) and unburned hydrocarbons (UHC). In recent years, pollutant species emissions from internal combustion engines have been the object of steadily more stringent limitations from various governmental agencies. Engine designers have responded by developing engines that reduce emissions to accommodate these tighter limitations. However, as these limits become ever more stringent, the ability of engine design modifications to meet those limits must be questioned. Production of NO{sub x} in internal combustion engines is primarily due to the high temperature extended Zeldovich reaction mechanism: (1) O + N{sub 2} = NO + N; (2) N + O{sub 2} = NO + O; and (3) N + OH = NO + H. The rates of these reactions become significant when combustion temperatures reach or exceed about 2000K. This large temperature dependence, characterized by …

We study dynamical flavor symmetry breaking in the context of a class of N=1 supersymmetric SU(n_c) and USp(2 n_c) gauge theories, constructed from the exactly solvable N=2 theories by perturbing them with small adjoint and generic bare hypermultiplet (quark) masses. We find that the flavor U(n_f) symmetry in SU(n_c) theories is dynamically broken to $U(r)\times U(n_f-r)$ groups for $n_f \leq n_c$. In the r=1 case the dynamical symmetry breaking is caused by the condensation of monopoles in the $\underlinen_f$ representation. For general r, however, the monopoles in the $\underline_n_fC_r$ representation, whose condensation could explain the flavor symmetry breaking but would produce too-many Nambu--Goldstone multiplets, actually"break up'' into"magnetic quarks'' which condense and induce confinement and the symmetry breaking. In USp(2n_c) theories with $n_f\leq n_c + 1$, the flavor SO(2n_f) symmetry is dynamically broken to U(n_f), but with no description in terms of a weakly coupled local field theory. In both SU(n_c) and USp(2 n_c) theories, with larger numbers of quark flavors, besides the vacua with these properties, there exist also vacua with no flavor symmetry breaking.

Nitrogen alloyed III-V semiconductor compounds have been intensely studied in recent years due to unusual effects caused by nitrogen alloying. These effects are exploited in band gap engineering for specific applications such as solar cells and blue lasers.

The heterogeneity of hydrogen and deuterium on the nanometer scale has been probed by samll-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from a-Si:H and a-Si:D films. Films were depsoited by two techniques, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) using conditions that yield high quality films and devices.

Magnetic susceptibility was suggested theoretically to be sensitive to the overall structural order of a-Si:H and is measured precisely for various a-Si:H thin films using a new technique.

The procedures for evaluating the performance of multijunctiion-concentrator cells at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are described. The accurate measurement of the performance of multijunction cells requires accurate relative-quantum-efficiency-measurements, "matched" reference cells, and a spectrally adjustable solar simulator.

In this paper, we examine the areas in c-Si growth, materials, and processing that require improvement through research to overcome barriers to the implementation of the PV Roadmap's Si goals.

The atomic composition of the back surface of the CdTe layer in a CdTe/CdS photovoltiac (PV) device has a significant influence on the quality of the electrical contact to this layer. This paper reports the results of a systematic study that correlates the composition of the back surface with pre-contact processing and device performance.

We describe a technique of photoluminescence measurements with a resolutiion of microns. This technique is applied to examine the CdS/CdTe interface of CdTe solar cells.

This paper briefs the photothermal reliability studies we conducted on different encapsulation materials for some U.S. PV companies that are subcontractors of the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) program.

Standard test procedures are being developed to assess the performance of stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper will present an overview of the latest procedure.

The objective of this work is to develop and optimize the new dye-sensitized solar cell technology. In view of the infancy of rutile material development for solar cells, the PV response of the dye-sensitized rutile-based solar cell is remarkably close to that of the anatase-based cell.

International market opportunities for the sale and deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems abound and will continue to out-pace domestic, grid-connected opportunities for the foreseeable future.

An analytical model describing electron transport in dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO(2) solar cells is shown to account for the non-linear dependence of the electron transport rate on the electron concentration. Equations relating the influenece of an exponential distribtuion of surface states to electron transport are derived and verified by intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy measurements. A slope of 69 meV is inferred for the surface-state distribution curve.

Historically, flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) modules have been rated at "peak-output" for power generated under Standard; Reporting Conditions (SRC) of 1000 Watts per square meter W/m2 global irradiance at a standard temperature (25degC) and reference spectral distribution. We examine the direct-normal irradiance, spectral distribution, ambient temperature, and wind speed to be used for evaluating flatplate and concentrator module performance. Our study is based upon the 30-year U.S. National Solar Radiation Data Base for conditions observed when the global irradiance on a 2-axis-tracked surface is 1000 W/m2. Results show commonly-used values for concentrator testing of 850 W/m2 for direct-normal irradiance and 20degC for ambient temperature are appropriate. Wind speed should be increased from 1 m/s to a more frequently observed 4 m/s. Differences between the reference direct-normal spectrum and spectra measured at three sites when broadband direct-normal irradiance and global-normal irradiance are near SRC irradiances suggest revisions to the reference spectra may be needed.

Based on recent cell improvements for space applications, multijunction cells apear to be ideal candidates for high efficiency, cost effective, PV concentrator systems.

Carbon dioxide sequestration by an ex-situ, direct aqueous mineral carbonation process has been investigated over the past two years. This process was conceived to minimize the steps in the conversion of gaseous CO2 to a stable solid. This meant combining two separate reactions, mineral dissolution and carbonate precipitation, into a single unit operation. It was recognized that the conditions favorable for one of these reactions could be detrimental to the other. However, the benefits for a combined aqueous process, in process efficiency and ultimately economics, justified the investigation. The process utilizes a slurry of water, dissolved CO2, and a magnesium silicate mineral, such as olivine [forsterite end member (Mg2SiO4)], or serpentine [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4]. These minerals were selected as the reactants of choice for two reasons: (1) significant abundance in nature; and (2) high molar ratio of the alkaline earth oxides (CaO, MgO) within the minerals. Because it is the alkaline earth oxide that combines with CO2 to form the solid carbonate, those minerals with the highest ratio of these oxides are most favored. Optimum results have been achieved using heat pretreated serpentine feed material, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride additions to the solution, and high partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). Specific …

Giant bandgap reduction of dilute GaAs1-xNx with nitrogen incorporation makes this material to be very attractive for conversion efficiency increase in multijunction, high efficiency solar cells.

The results of a detailed EXAFS study of the Cu-K, In-K, and Se-K edges CuIn3Se5 are reported. The Cu and In first nearest neighbor local structures were found to be almost identical to those in CuInSe2.

The Albany Research Center (ARC) of the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) has been conducting a series of mineral carbonation tests at its Albany, Oregon, facility over the past 2 years as part of a Mineral Carbonation Study Program within the DOE. Other participants in this Program include the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Arizona State University, Science Applications International Corporation, and the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory. The ARC tests have focused on ex-situ mineral carbonation in an aqueous system. The process developed at ARC utilizes a slurry of water mixed with a magnesium silicate mineral, olivine [forsterite end member (Mg2SiO4)], or serpentine [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4]. This slurry is reacted with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce magnesite (MgCO3). The CO2 is dissolved in water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which dissociates to H+ and HCO3 -. The H+ reacts with the mineral, liberating Mg2+ cations which react with the bicarbonate to form the solid carbonate. The process is designed to simulate the natural serpentinization reaction of ultramafic minerals, and for this reason, these results may also be applicable to in-situ geological sequestration regimes. Results of the baseline tests, conducted on ground products of the natural minerals, have been encouraging. Tests conducted …