Course Details

1. Explain the basic concepts of solar cell generation.
2. Define the principles of pn junction, depletion region and intrinsic electric field.
3. Explain the principles and fundamentals of photovoltaic generation.
4. Describe 3rd generation solar cells.
5. Examine the basic concepts of thin film solar cells.
6. Analyze using simulation software the effects of fundamental properties on the performance of thin film cells.

·     Photovoltaics Generation: Introduction to photovoltaic generation, Solar radiation, The silicon p–njunction, Photon absorption at the junction, Solar radiation absorption,Maximising cell efficiency, Solar cell construction, Equivalent circuit of asolar cell, Types and adaptations of photovoltaics, Photovoltaic circuitproperties, Applications and systems, Social and environmental aspects.

·     Semiconductor Processes of Photovoltaics Technologies: Introduction to the physics of the various photovoltaictechnologies: Monocrystalline Silicon, Polycrystalline Silicon, AmorphousSilicon, GaAs, CIGS, CdTe and Multijunction (Tandem) solar cells includinggeneration, recombination, carrier lifetimes, Debye length, energy band gaps,valence, conduction bands, Fermi-Level, p-n junction, depletion region andintrinsic electric field.

·     Thin film solar cells: Introduction and basic concepts of thin film solarcells, Photovoltaic solar energy conversion, Solar energy technologies,Electrochemical deposition of solar energy materials, CdTe solar cells, CIGSsolar cells, GaAs solar cells, Effective harvesting of photons, Multi-layergraded bandgap solar cells, Solar cell behaviour in complete darkness, Effectsof defects on the solar cell characteristics, and Future directions, Researchand development of the above ground braking thin film photovoltaictechnologies. 

·     Simulation of thin films: Simulation exercises usingthe PC1D/WXAMPS program to reinforce an understanding of device physics and thedifferent solar cell technologies, Mathematical models used for characterisation of solar cells, Spectralresponse, Temperature sensitivity, Resistive losses, Current-voltagegeneration, open-circuit voltages and short-circuit currents.

• Advances in Thin-Film Solar Cells, 1st Edition, I. M. Dharmadasa, 2012, Pan Stanford Publishing
• The Physics of Solar Cells, J. Nelson, 2003, Imperial College Press,

• Thin Film Solar Cells, K.L. Chopra, S.R. Das, 1983, Springer, 0306411415/978-0306411410
• Renewable Energy Resources, 2nd Edition, John Twidell and Tony Wier, Taylor & Francis, 2006, 0419253300/9780419253303
• Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, 3rd Edition, Aldo V. da Rosa, 2012, Elsevier Academic Press, 0123972191/9780123972194

Teaching is based on lectures.