Solar Cell Device Physics, 2nd Edition

Solar Cell Device Physics, 2nd Edition

Released June 2010
Publisher(s): Academic Press
ISBN: 9780080912271

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Book description

There has been an enormous infusion of new ideas in the field of solar cells over the last 15 years; discourse on energy transfer has gotten much richer, and nanostructures and nanomaterials have revolutionized the possibilities for new technological developments. However, solar energy cannot become ubiquitous in the world's power markets unless it can become economically competitive with legacy generation methods such as fossil fuels.

The new edition of Dr. Stephen Fonash's definitive text points the way toward greater efficiency and cheaper production by adding coverage of cutting-edge topics in plasmonics, multi-exiton generation processes, nanostructures and nanomaterials such as quantum dots. The book's new structure improves readability by shifting many detailed equations to appendices, and balances the first edition's semiconductor coverage with an emphasis on thin-films. Further, it now demonstrates physical principles with simulations in the well-known AMPS computer code developed by the author.



*Classic text now updated with new advances in nanomaterials and thin films that point the way to cheaper, more efficient solar energy production

*Many of the detailed equations from the first edition have been shifted to appendices in order to improve readability

*Important theoretical points are now accompanied by concrete demonstrations via included simulations created with the well-known AMPS computer code

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Preface
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. List of Symbols
  8. List of Abbreviations
  9. Chapter One. Introduction
    1. 1.1 Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
    2. 1.2 Solar Cells and Solar Energy Conversion
    3. 1.3 Solar Cell Applications
  10. Chapter Two. Material Properties and Device Physics Basic to Photovoltaics
    1. 2.1 Introduction
    2. 2.2 Material Properties
    3. 2.3 Transport
    4. 2.4 The Mathematical System
    5. 2.5 Origins of Photovoltaic Action
  11. Chapter Three. Structures, Materials, and Scale
    1. 3.1 Introduction
    2. 3.2 Basic Structures for Photovoltaic Action
    3. 3.3 Key Materials
    4. 3.4 Length Scale Effects for Materials and Structures
  12. Chapter Four. Homojunction Solar Cells
    1. 4.1 Introduction
    2. 4.2 Overview of Homojunction Solar Cell Device Physics
    3. 4.3 Analysis of Homojunction Device Physics: Numerical Approach
    4. 4.4 Analysis of Homojunction Device Physics: Analytical Approach
    5. 4.5 Some Homojunction Configurations
  13. Chapter Five. Semiconductor–semiconductor Heterojunction Cells
    1. 5.1 Introduction
    2. 5.2 Overview of Heterojunction Solar Cell Device Physics
    3. 5.3 Analysis of Heterojunction Device Physics: Numerical Approach
    4. 5.4 Analysis of Heterojunction Device Physics: Analytical Approach
    5. 5.5 Some Heterojunction Configurations
  14. Chapter Six. Surface-barrier Solar Cells
    1. 6.1 Introduction
    2. 6.2 Overview of Surface-barrier Solar Cell Device Physics
    3. 6.3 Analysis of Surface-barrier Device Physics: Numerical Approach
    4. 6.4 Analysis of Surface-barrier Device Physics: Analytical Approach
    5. 6.5 Some Surface-barrier Configurations
  15. Chapter Seven. Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
    1. 7.1 Introduction
    2. 7.2 Overview of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Device Physics
    3. 7.3 Analysis of DSSC Device Physics: Numerical Approach
    4. 7.4 Some DSSC Configurations
  16. APPENDIX A. The Absorption Coefficient
  17. APPENDIX B. Radiative Recombination
  18. APPENDIX C. Shockley-Read-Hall (Gap-state–assisted) Recombination
  19. APPENDIX D. Conduction- and Valence-band Transport
  20. APPENDIX E. The Quasi-neutral-region Assumption and Lifetime Semiconductors
  21. APPENDIX F. Determining p(x) and n(x) for the Space-charge-neutral Regions of a Homojunction
  22. APPENDIX G. Determining n(x) for the Space-charge-neutral Region of a Heterojunction p-type Bottom Material
  23. Index

Product information

  • Title: Solar Cell Device Physics, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: June 2010
  • Publisher(s): Academic Press
  • ISBN: 9780080912271