Crystalline silicon solar cells beyond 20% efficiency

—This paper describes a fabrication process to obtain high efficiency c-Si cells (> 20%) based on the Laser Fired Contact Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (LFC-PERC) concept. Photovoltaic efficiencies beyond 20% have been achieved using thermal SiO2 as a rear passivation layer on 2 cm x 2 cm solar cells with 0.45 cm Fz c-Si substrates. Efficiencies up to 22% are expected for material resistivities in the 0.4–5 cm using an optimized rear contact gridPostprint (published version

Current Incidence and risk factors of fecal incontinence after acute stroke affecting functionally independent people

Background: Previously published retrospective series show a high prevalence of fecal incontinence (FI) in stroke patients. We aimed to analyze in a prospective series the current incidence of FI in acute stroke in functionally independent patients and its evolution over time and the patient characteristics associated with the appearance of FI in acute stroke. Methods: We included consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted in our stroke unit who fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: a first episode of stroke, aged >18 years, with no previous functional dependency [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) = 2] and without previous known FI. FI was assessed by a multidisciplinary trained team using dedicated questionnaires at 72 ± 24 h (acute phase) and at 90 ± 15 days (chronic phase). Demographic, medical history, clinical and stroke features, mortality, and mRS at 7 days were collected. Results: Three hundred fifty-nine (48.3%) of 749 patients (mean age 65.9 ± 10, 64% male, 84.1% ischemic) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were prospectively included during a 20-month period. FI was identified in 23 patients (6.4%) at 72 ± 24 h and in 7 (1.9%) at 90 days ± 15 days after stroke onset. FI was more frequent in hemorrhagic strokes (18 vs. 5%, p 0.007) and in more severe strokes [median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 18 (14–22) vs. 5 (3–13), p < 0.0001]. No differences were found regarding age, sex, vascular risk factors, or other comorbidities, or affected hemisphere. Patients with NIHSS =12 (AUC 0.81, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.89) had a 17-fold increase for the risk of FI (OR 16.9, IC 95% 4.7–60.1) adjusted for covariates.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

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Células fotovoltaicas con un rendimiento del 20.5%

Un grupo de investigadores de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) han desarrollado un proceso de fabricación que permite obtener rendimientos de conversión fotovoltaicos del 20,5%. Esto supone una mejora sustancial con respecto a los rendimientos habituales en células comerciales que sitúa en un 15%, y la cuota más elevada a la que se ha llegado hasta ahora en España. En estos momentos trabajan en mejoras que las hagan accesibles industrialmente. El avance, tras años de investigación, consiste en minimizar los diferentes mecanismos de pérdidas que influyen en el cómputo de la eficiencia de conversión fotovoltaica.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

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Células fotovoltaicas con un rendimiento del 20.5%

Un grupo de investigadores de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) han desarrollado un proceso de fabricación que permite obtener rendimientos de conversión fotovoltaicos del 20,5%. Esto supone una mejora sustancial con respecto a los rendimientos habituales en células comerciales que sitúa en un 15%, y la cuota más elevada a la que se ha llegado hasta ahora en España. En estos momentos trabajan en mejoras que las hagan accesibles industrialmente. El avance, tras años de investigación, consiste en minimizar los diferentes mecanismos de pérdidas que influyen en el cómputo de la eficiencia de conversión fotovoltaica.Peer Reviewe

Crystalline silicon solar cells beyond 20% efficiency

—This paper describes a fabrication process to obtain high efficiency c-Si cells (> 20%) based on the Laser Fired Contact Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (LFC-PERC) concept. Photovoltaic efficiencies beyond 20% have been achieved using thermal SiO2 as a rear passivation layer on 2 cm x 2 cm solar cells with 0.45 cm Fz c-Si substrates. Efficiencies up to 22% are expected for material resistivities in the 0.4–5 cm using an optimized rear contact gri