Handbook

Solar cells harness the energy of sunlight and convert it directly into electricity. This course covers factors important in the understanding, design and characterisation of solar cells. It will extend students' existing semiconductor device understanding and provide a sound basis in key practical processes such as solid state diffusion and device contacting. Students are introduced to a range of laboratory-based and commercial solar cell technologies in this course including silicon (wafer-based) technologies, thin film technologies, multi-junction, concentrator and third generation concepts and technologies. Simulation exercises, using the PC1D program, are used to reinforce an understanding of device physics and the different solar cell technologies. In addition, students will learn about characterisation techniques that will enable them to study solar cells with regard to their effects on spectral response, temperature sensitivity, resistive losses, current generation and open-circuit voltages.