University of Delaware
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
University of Delaware
Office of Economic Innovation
& Partnerships
1 Innovation Way, Suite 500
Delaware Technology Park
Newark, DE 19711
Ph: (302) 831-4005
techtransfer@udel.edu
Version: 14.2
Technologies Available for Licensing
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
Page
No.
Invention Title
Case
Number
1
A More Efficient Power Point Tracking Method
UD08-14
2
Mass Producing Uniform Thin-Film Photovoltaics
UD09-09
3
Low-Cost Solar Cells Without Vacuum Contacting
UD09-34
4
Improving the Optical Efficiency of Thin-Film Solar Cells
UD10-09
5
Reducing the Real-Estate Used by Solar Cells
UD10-43
6
Back Surface Reflector for Photovoltaic Applications
UD11-18
7
Methods and Apparatuses for Minimum Mass Solar Tracking
UD12-15
8
Novel Nanostructures for Efficient Upconversion of Photons
UD12-27
9
Ultra-Compact Dispersive Concentrating Photovoltaics
UD12-30
10
Method for Depositing a Compound Thin Film by Reactive
Evaporation
UD14-11
11
Method for Substitutional Doping in Compound Semiconductors
UD14-16
12
Process to Make Solar Paint
UD 14-32
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES
Page
No.
Invention Title
Case
Number
13
Non-Corrosive Hydrogen Ejector
UD11-33
14
Non-Precious Metal Electrocatalyst Adapted for Modern Fuel
Cells
UD14-13
15
A method to Reduce Non-Torque Rotor Moments for Improved
Reliability of Wind Turbines
UD14-31
BIOFUELS
Page
No.
Invention Title
Case
Number
16
Improved Biofuel Screening Process
UD10-49
17
Synthetic Methylotrophy to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals
UD14-33
18
Liquid Fuel From Natural Gas Using Synthetic Biology
UD14-52
A More Efficient Power Point Tracking Method
(UD08-14)
Technology Description:
This cutting-edge invention maximizes the efficiency of power convertors by implementing a low-cost
power point tracking system. Bulky, expensive sensors are installed on most solar panels and this
technology makes these obsolete. An indirect cell current measurement is made by switching the
frequency of the power convertor. Switching the frequency of the power convertor is related to the cell
current thus creating an opportunity for indirect cell current measurement.
Benefits:
•
•
•
It eliminates the need to use expensive and bulky current sensors
Prevents loss of power if one cell fails
Remote area installations would not need repair
Patent Status:
Fig. Power converter circuits.
The technology is patented with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• U.S. Issued Patent (No. 8,093,872)
• U.S. Issued Patent (No. 8,093,873)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
1
Mass Producing Uniform Thin-Film Photovoltaics
(UD09-09)
Technology Description:
Thin-film pholtovoltaics are revolutionary however if there is no efficient means to mass produce them,
their impact on society will be minimal. This invention provides this efficient production method by
controlling evaporation of single component elements to create complex multi-element films. It provides
a new class of evaporation principles and associated evaporation sources resulting in the creation of
uniform, well controlled multi-element thin films. Several key areas of this invention include: (1) a general
fabrication procedure, including a preferably roll-to-roll-type, process-chamber-segregated, "continuousmotion” method; (2) a special multi-material vapor-deposition environment which is created to
implement an important co-evaporation, layer-deposition procedure performed in and part of the
method just mentioned; (3) a structural system uniquely focused on creating a vapor environment.
Benefits:
•
•
Efficient, Economical means of mass production
Potential for high source utilization
•
Creation of uniform, well-controlled multi-element thin films
Fig. Diagram of the principle of evaporation.
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2012-0156372)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
2
Low-Cost Solar Cells Without Vacuum Contacting
(UD09-34)
Technology Description:
The invention defines an approach and process for fabricating all back contact heterojunction solar cells,
particularly using an a-Si/c-Si device structure. The invention eliminates the need for photolithography in
fabricating all back contact heterojunction solar cells by utilizing ink jet and laser technologies.
Additionally, the patterning of the emitter and contact layers is optimized for performance and
integration into a module structure. The approach builds on our existing heterojunction all-back contact
Si solar cell platform to develop ink jet based processes for masking, metal contacts, insulators and local
etchants.
Benefits:
•
•
•
•
•
Elimination of photolithography in fabrication process
Simple solar cell fabrication
Reductions in manufacturing costs
Improved performance and efficiency of solar cells
Allows for large-scale implementation of all back-contact structures
Fig. Schematic picture of interdigitated back contact
silicon heterojunction solar cells. (a) Cross-sectional view.
(b) Bottom view.
Patent Status:
The technology is patented with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• U. S. Issued Patent (No. 8,450,141)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
3
Improving the Optical Efficiency of
Thin-Film Solar Cells
(UD10-09)
Technology Description:
The invention is an improvement to the current thin film solar cell (TFSC) technology. By incorporating
diffractive gratings and Photonic Crystals (PhCs) to the solar cells, improvements to the overall optical
efficiency of a solar cell are made. Thin film solar cell technology has attracted significant attention as a
potential solution to high material costs associated with conventional wafer based devices. By their very
nature TFSC reduces the amount of material needed to manufacture each solar cell device and hence
ultimately reduce the cost per watt of output power. However, the reduction in active photovoltaic
material also leads to a reduction in cell efficiency. Light trapping affords the capacity to reduce the
thickness of the active solar cell material while still maintaining, in theory, similar absorption
characteristics as those of standard thicker wafer based cells. The new invention tackles the issue of light
trapping by employing PhCs and diffraction gratings to increase the light trapping capacity of TFSC
structures. In our design, we employ a specially engineered stopband material which is designed to allow
only for the propagation of normally incident light waves.
Fig. Multiple device stack architecture
showing the benefits of the selective
light filtering.
Benefits:
•
•
•
Eliminates optical losses associated with out coupling of light from the solar cell
Combines the benefits of light trapping with multi device stacking solar cell architecture
Mitigates optical efficiency tradeoffs that arise from traditional stacking architectures
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2011-0203663)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
4
Reducing the Real-Estate Used by Solar Cells
(UD10-43)
Fig. Unit cell of the
concentrator
Technology Description:
Concentrating photovoltaics have long been considered as a potential solution to reduce the costs and to
enhance the energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, conventional
concentrator technologies designed for large-scale applications have several issues impeding them from
being competitive to flat-plate PV and are not directly portable to applications for small-scale mobile
electronics. The proposed technology, ICPV, provides a solution to address these issues. It provides a
new method in which the collection process of the light (optics) is spatially decoupled from the
conversion process (solar cells) via the use of light guides. Such approach avoids the necessity of placing
each PV cell beneath a concentrator. Hence optical power collection and conversion can be managed
independently.
Benefits:
•
•
•
Optical power collection and conversion can be managed independently
Provides higher efficiency and lower costs than the flat-plate PV
Very compact structure comparable to flat-plate PV
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2011-0297229)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
5
Back Surface Reflector for Photovoltaic Applications
(UD11-18)
Technology Description:
This invention relates to the design and analysis of a back reflector. This reflector reduces the complexity
of multilayer distributed Bragg reflectors. As back surface mirrors, this invention still maintains high
reflectance characteristics. The proposed back reflector reduces the number of dielectric layers needed
to attain high reflectance performance, it reduces the number of periods, to as few as one period,
thereby decreasing the complexity and cost of fabricating high reflectance back structures and promoting
the large scale fabrication process of the technology. One major challenge in achieving high efficiency
thin film solar cells is the insufficient absorption of long wavelength photons because of the low
absorption coefficient and short optical path length imposed by the small film thickness. The proposed
technology offers an alternative to alleviate this problem and make the industry economically viable.
Benefits:
• Decreases the complexity and cost of fabricating high reflectance back structures
• Increases the efficiency of thin film solar cells
• Offers a cheaper, more effective alternative to Bragg reflectors
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2014-0007935)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
6
Methods and Apparatuses for Minimum Mass Solar Tracking
(UD12-15)
Technology Description:
High efficiency solar cells require concentrators to reduce costs and to enhance conversion efficiency;
however, static PV concentrators have limited acceptance angles and therefore relatively lack practicality.
This invention is the first of its kind to realize solar tracking with a minimum mass. Solar tracking can be
realized by mechanically rotating or moving a solar panel or the solar concentrator. Unfortunately,
conventional tracking techniques are bulky and usually the mass of the entire PV module is moved. The
proposed invention effectively tracks the sun during its movement with a minimum moved mass.
Fig. An embodiment of the
minimum mass tracking
concept.
Benefits:
•
•
•
Able to use upper wavelength portion of solar spectrum as well as visible light portion
Greater solar to hydrogen efficiencies than previous methods
High modularity is appropriate for manufacturing and enables easy scalability to large and small
applications
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2013-0104981)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
7
Novel Nanostructures for Efficient Upconversion of Photons
(UD12-27)
Technology Description:
The invention relates to a semiconductor nanostructure designed to efficiently convert two low-energy
photons into one high-energy photon. The upconversion is made efficient by using carefully tailored
coupling of discrete quantum states to suppress radiative and nonradiative loss mechanisms. One
objective is to convert low-energy photons from the sun, which cannot be absorbed in a single-junction
photovoltaic device, into high-energy photons that can be absorbed. This upconversion increases the flux
of solar photons that can be converted into electricity and could dramatically enhance the efficiency of
photovoltaic devices.
Benefits:
•
•
Unlike the intermediate band solar cells, which are difficult to realize because of the electronic
interface between the different absorption regions, the proposed technology utilizes an optical
interface between the absorption/emission regions of our device and the absorption region of a
photovoltaic device.
It can increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices by up to 55% with a minimal increase in device
fabrication costs. Greater solar to hydrogen efficiencies than previous methods.
Fig. Schematic of one potential upconversion device.
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published WO (No. 2013-180817)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
8
Ultra-Compact Dispersive Concentrating Photovoltaics
(UD12-30)
Technology Description:
The technology is a first of its kind comprehensive solution for efficient spectral dispersion of sunlight for
Photovoltaic applications. The hallmark component of this technology is an innovative ultra-compact, highefficiency Dispersive Lens that spectrally splits the incident sunlight onto laterally positioned multiple bandgap PV cells. The Dispersive Lens, which has a physical profile and weight similar to a conventional refractive
or Fresnel lens, embeds dispersive micro-optical layers that efficiently spread the solar spectrum with
minimum thickness. The novel micro-optical concept integrates the concentration and spectral dispersion
functions in a thin optical layer consisting of inexpensive lightweight elements.
Benefits:
• Ultra-compact, high-efficiency conversion
• It uses inexpensive lightweight elements
Fig.
(a) Exemplary optical ray-trace design of the
Dispersive Lens.
(b) Perspective view of the Dispersive Lens.
(c) Spot diagrams.
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2014-0130855)
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
9
Method for Depositing a Compound Thin Film by
Reactive Evaporation
UD14-11
(UD14-11)
Technology Description:
Modern methods of depositing a thin film include atomic layer deposition and a technique called
sputtering. This invention uses Reactive Evaporation to deposit a Compound Thin Film onto a solar cell.
The process bypasses the use of metallorganic precursors, which are expensive and hazardous, and
inherently eliminates the massive cost of these materials. A vacuum is used to conduct the process at
pressures lower than ALD (< 100 mtorr) and a temperature chamber is needed in order to prevent
indefinite accumulation as well as ensure the desired chemi- or physi-sorbtion. This technology
encourages fast and safe practices by accelerating the means of depositing compound thin films and
bypassing harmful and hazardous chemical precursors. Existing reactive evaporation processes have not
been expanded and are still in the rudimentary stages of development.
Benefits:
•
•
•
•
•
Produces the same or better results as atomic layer deposition
Eliminates the need and cost of metalloric precursors used in atomic layer deposition
Revolutionary technology in the field of Reactive Evaporation
Speeds up the process of depositing a compound thin film
Increases the economic benefits of investing in thin film technology
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
10
Method for Substitutional Doping in
Compound Semiconductors
UD14-16
(UD14-16)
Technology Description:
This invention provides a method for incorporating an electronic dopant into a compound
semiconducting film or crystal either during or after fabrication. Vapor delivery or contact diffusion
delivery of a substitutional element to the compound semiconductor from a different compound that
contains both the dopant element and one or more secondary element(s) is the basis of this invention.
The grand objective of this invention is to control the overall vapor-solid equilibrium. The inventive
process builds upon the established concept of co-doping in which the incorporation of a substitutional
dopant in a compound semiconductor is activated by stoichiometric deviation. The invention provides for
controlling the chemical activity of the dopant species in the vapor over the semiconductor. For ex-situ
doping of films and crystals, the method provides for a 2-zone thermal treatment configuration in which
the treatment time is determined by sample size and morphology and the diffusion properties of the
dopant specie. For in-situ film deposition or crystal growth, the method provides for a multi-chambered
source to allow independent control of vapor concentrations of semiconductor constituents and dopant.
Benefits:
• Provides a means for obtaining high electrical conductivity with no loss in mobility by
substitutional doping
• Expands the options for photovoltaic doping scenarios
– Substitutional doping instead of interstitial doping
– Eliminates need for self-compensation
– Long-term stability
– Mobile and free carrier concentration
• Provides a general method for use in systems with analogous dopant and stoichiometric kinetics
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
11
Process to Make Solar Paint
(UD14-32)
Technology Description:
This technology outlines a prototype for solar paint that can be applied to any surface to make it a solar
cell. The combination of the dissolved semi-conductive polymer (P3HT) and the nanoparticle (PCBM) in a
solvent, when stirred while cooling to room temperature, forms a gel with very long crystals. The
viscosity of this mixture is similar to that of latex paint due to the long crystal formations. If this paint is
then added in the prototype detailed below, a solar cell can be made. The novelty of this technology is
the stirring process of the solution, which increases both the viscosity and the efficiency of the solar
paint. Solar paint has many possible applications such as being used by soldiers in the field, citizens in an
emergency situation, or for those in developing countries to provide power where there is none.
Fig. Illustration of the solar cell design. Saran wrap is used to encapsulate the cell.
Benefits:
• Applied to any surface and will make it a solar cell
• Increased efficiency over non-stirred solar paint
• Solvent used is non-carcinogenic
Uses/Users:
• Create solar cells on any surface
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGIES
12
Non-Corrosive Hydrogen Ejector
(UD11-33)
Technology Description:
The invention is a novel means to recirculate hydrogen within a fuel cell, and thus prevent corrosion of
the fuel cell catalyst and its supports. The ejector is fed primarily with hydrogen from the storage tanks
that supply the fuel cell itself, maintaining a supersonic jet of hydrogen gas. The low static pressure of this
jet allows for the entrance of a secondary feed of hydrogen to the ejector, from the outlet of the fuel cell
anode. The resulting mixed jet of hydrogen is regulated so that it enters the fuel cell at rate that matches
the consumption of hydrogen within the fuel cell. This regulation is accomplished through a pressure
controller working along with the fuel cell system controller, which adjusts an actuator-driven needle to
modulate the amount of hydrogen in the supersonic jet.
Benefits:
•
•
•
Maintains fuel cell performance.
More efficient than current methods of hydrogen recirculation.
Prevents corrosion.
Fig. The ejector installed on the UD fuel cell bus.
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. and European patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
• Published US (No. 2014-0080016)
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES
13
Non-Precious Metal Electrocatalyst Adapted for
Modern Fuel Cells
UD14-13
(UD14-13)
Technology Description:
Fuel cells are costly and still in the early stages of development however with this new technology,
alkaline or alkaline membrane fuel cells could become much cheaper and outperform fuel cells that use
Platinum as an electrocatalyst. The discovery of highly active non-precious Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction
in base is crucial in order to make fuel cells practical and economical. Some rudimentary work has been
done to attempt to understand the Nickel based non-precious metal electrocatalysts however previous to
this invention, the only research that had been somewhat successful was decorating the Nickel with
Chromium. The experiment with Chromium did not yield anywhere near the results of this invention. The
conclusion made by this inventive process is that CoNiMo produced the highest HOR reaction and the
highest Hydrogen Binding Energy reaction as well. Platinum and other precious metals are no longer
needed in fuel cells and a much more economical, sensible solution has been developed with the
integration of CoNiMo.
Figure 2. Arrhenius plots of the exchange current
of CoNiMo and Pt as a function of 1/T.
Benefits:
• Eliminates the need for precious metals in fuel cells
• Establishes a highly effective, inexpensive fuel cell technology that outperforms fuel cells that
use Platinum as an electrocatalyst
• HOR activity of this specific technology is 20 times higher than that of fuel cells that use Ni in
alkaline mediums
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES
14
A Method to Reduce Non-Torque Rotor Moments for
Improved Reliability of Wind Turbines
UD14-31
(UD14-31)
Technology Description:
The life span of wind turbines are extremely important to investors and this technology has the potential
to greatly expand them. Premature drivetrain failure is a concern for modern wind turbines however this
invention puts a rest to this worry. A natural consequence of wind shear are pitch moments and
moments of yaw where excess strain is being put on the turbines. The invention is a control system to
eliminate these moments and consists of three parts: 1) A swashplate, which is a standard mechanical
element used to convert rotary motion to linear motion or to lock cyclic phase with an actuation
command; 2) A load cell to measure pitch and yaw moments; 3) a control algorithm to adjust the
swashplate in response to rotor moments. This system could not only eliminate moments from yaw and
wind shear, it could actually be used to steer the nacelle, thus eliminating or assisting the yaw control
system. The loads of turbines would be non-torque and because non-torque loads have a life reducing
effect on wind turbines, this invention is a cheap and easy way to improve life and the value of every
turbine.
Benefits:
• Increases the lifespan of wind turbines by eliminating the stress caused by torque loads
• Cheap and easy implementation of technology
• Eliminates the need for the yaw control system that is used on modern wind turbines
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES
15
Improved Biofuel Screening Process
(UD10-49)
Technology Description:
The invention improves the biofuel production process by providing a novel method for the
screening of generated phenotypes of process organisms. Whereas previous methods to express
heterogenous genes leave much of the genetic information unable to be screened, this method
instead enhances heterogenous gene expression through specifically engineering the
transcriptional machinery of the host organism. This engineering involves manipulating the host
machinery with sigma factors and RNA-polymerase (both essential to the transcription process)
of the donor organism. The screening process is ameliorated because the host transcription
machinery is thus able to recognize a greater variety of promoters, thereby increasing the
number of heterogonous genes that are expressed and that are able to be screened for
desirability. Moreover, the process of changing the host machinery can itself be manipulated so
that more specific promoters, for more specific process conditions, can be utilized. This would
even further enhance the screening process.
Fig. Shows the GFP-trap library approach
Benefits:
 Improves the screening process to find the desired phenotype of a biofuel process organism from a
large number of phenotypes
 Can be applied to a large variety of donor and host organisms
 Allows for host organism transcription machinery to be engineered in order to meet very specific
criteria of a production process
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
 Published U.S. (No. 2012-0035078)
BIOFUELS
16
Synthetic Methylotrophy to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals
(UD14-33)
Technology Description:
This invention turns a model organism Escherichia coli into a synthetic methylotroph, which can utilize
methanol and carbon dioxide for growth and production of chemicals. Methylotrophic bacteria are
organisms able to utilize one-carbon molecules such as methanol or methane as their sole carbon energy
source for growth. The function of this invention is to enable the methylotrophic E. coli (and other
bacteria) to produce formaldehyde, which is then converted to pyruvate and acetyl-coA through a series
of enzymatic reactions. The acetyl-coA can then be used to generate useful chemicals and fuels. This
invention is a novel approach because it is a cost-efficient method for biofuel production with minimal
carbon dioxide formation.
Fig: Summarizes the invention and the novelty of the invention
Benefits:
• Cost-efficient biofuel production
• Minimal carbon dioxide formation
• E. coli methylotroph can grow aerobically or anaerobically
Uses/Users:
• Generate chemicals and fuels
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
BIOFUELS
17
Liquid Fuel From Natural Gas Using Synthetic Biology
(UD14-52)
Technology Description:
This invention is an approach to simultaneously utilize methanol (MeOH) and fix CO2 to produce nbutanol (n-BuOH) or chemicals or fuel molecules from acetyl co-A or pyruvate. The rational is the
reduction energy contained in MeOH (which is more reduced than, e.g., glucose) can be conserved under
anaerobic growth conditions and used to produce BuOH and at the same time fix CO2. Significantly, the
technology aims to minimize the CO2 formation by recycling all or most of the evolved CO2. The
engineered methylotrophic E. coli strain(s) aim to meet requirements for high pathway energy efficiency,
yield, and kinetics.
Fig. Overview of the invention. Engineered and optimized E. coli can grow on MeOH, fix CO2 & produce nBuOH. We assume MeOH will be generated biologically or non-biologically from CH4 with the
shown electrons needs/outputs.
Benefits:
• Cost-efficient biofuel production
• Minimal carbon dioxide release
• E. coli engineered to become a methylotroph
Uses/Users:
• Generate chemicals and fuels
Patent Status:
The technology is patent pending with fully preserved U.S. and worldwide patent rights available for
licensing opportunities.
BIOFUELS
18
For Further Information
Please Contact:
Contact Information
Denise M. Bierlein
Telephone: (302) 831-4005
Email: techtransfer@udel.edu
Mailing Address
University of Delaware
Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships
1 Innovation Way, Suite 500
Delaware Technology Park
Newark, DE 19711