High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells - SOLA9003

   
   
   
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
 
 
Contact Hours per Week: 4
 
 
Fee Band: 2 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description


This is an advanced level subject for those with a good background in semiconductor device physics and an interest in silicon colar cells or related devices. After a brief review of the crystal structure, energy bands and phonon spectra of silicon, the course examines silicon's optical, recombination and transport properties in some detail. Next comes a discussion of efficiency limits upon photovoltaic energy conversion, with particular emphasis upon light trapping and the potential for exceeding conventional limits. After discussion of presently achieveable surface and bulk material properties, the final section of the course studies in detail the design of silicon cells upon both crystalline and multicrystalline substrates and under concentrated and non-concentrated sunlight.