SOLAR CELLS 

Objective: 

Introduce the students to the potential of the solar energy, photovoltaic effect, photovoltaic metrials, solar cells, solar cell modules their fabrication and the engineering technologies involved in it. Give a good exposure of the existing technologies and widely used solar cells, panels and power plants. Introduce new materials for solar cells and the means of storage and utilization of the solar energy. Grades will be based on a midterm and final examination and on the presentations given in class. 

1.	Solar Irradiance-- 2 hours 

The characteristics of the sun - solar constant - solar spectral irradiance - solar energy variation - attenuation of solar energy - solar simulation - solar cell testing methods. 

2.	Junctions--9 hours 

Homojunction - junction transport - heterojunction - heterojunction transport models interface states - band bending - Schottky barriers - MIS structures - semiconductor electrolyte junctions - ohmic contacts 

3.	Physics of photovoltaics--12 hours 

Energy levels in semiconductors - optical absorption - Photovoltaic effect - absorption of light by semiconductors - separation and collection of carriers - recombination losses - deep levels - efficiency - efficiency limiting factors - quantum efficiency spectral response - voltage dependent collection functions – 

4.	Silicon solar cell technology-6 hours 

Structure - growth of silicon crystals - silicon wafer preparation - silicon sheet preparation - silicon film preparation - cell fabrication process - Amorphous silicon cells - polycrystalline silicon cells. 

5.	Thin film solar cells: CdTe and CuInSe2 --7 hours 

Film deposition techniques- vacuum evaporation - close spaced sublimation - spray pyrolysis - screen printing - electrodeposition -sputtering - chemical bath deposition Copper indium diselenide cells -material properties and crystal structure of CIS Cadmium telluride cells - structure of CdTe - doping of CdTe - surface and contact properties - post deposition processing - ohmic contact issues - cell fabrication - device configurations - antireflection coatings. 

6.	Applications -5 hours 

Rural electrification - battery charging - telecommunications - satellite PV system - PV power stations - hydrogen production - 

7.	  Photovoltaic engineering-5 hours 
 
Photovoltaic systems - photovoltaic modules - interconnection of PV modules - capturing of sun light - photovoltaic generator - Battery operation in PV systems - lead acid batteries - power coditioning and control - charge regulator - inverters - 

8.	Examinations -2 hours 

Although the class will be conducted in Spanish, each week students will be expected make presentations in English. 

References 

Ch.1. 
A.A.M.Sayigh, "Solar energy engineering", Academic Press, 1977 Tomas Markvart "Solar Electricity", Wiley, 1994 

Ch.2. Ch.3. 

R.H.Bube, "Photoelectronic Properties of Semiconductors", Cambridge University Press, 1992 

R.J.van Overstraeten, R.P.Mertens, "Physics, Technology and Use of Photovoltaics", Adam Hilger Ltd, 1986. 

A.L.fahrenbruch, R.H.Bube, "Fundamantals of Solar Cells", Academic Press, 1983. David L.Pulfrey, "Photovoltaic Power Generation", Van Nostrand Reinhold Comoanv. 1978 

Ch.4. 
David L.Pulfrey, "Photovoltaic Power Generation", Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1978.
 
R.H.Bube, "Photovoltaic Materials", Imperial College Press, 1998 

David L.Pulfrey, "Photovoltaic Power Generation", Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1978 

Ch.5. 
R.H.Bube, "Photovoltaic Materials", Imperial College Press, 1998 Tom<;1s markvart "Solar Electricity"', Wiley, 1994 

Solar Cells 23 (1988), special issue on CdTe 

Ch.6. 
Tomas Markvart "Solar Electricity", Wiley, 1994 

Ch.7. 
Tomas Markvart "Solar Electricity", Wiley, 1994 

For further reading 

W.B.Gillett, RJ.Hacker, W.Kaut, "Photovoltaic Demonstration Projects r, Elsy 
Applied Science", 1989. 

M.M.Koltun, "Solar Cells Their Optics and Metrology", Allerton Press, 1988.

K.S.V.Santhanam, M.Sharon, "Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells", Elsevier, 1988.

MJaros, .. Deep Levels in Semiconductors", Adam Hilger Ltd., 1982 

Richard Dalven, "Introduction to Applied Solid State Physics", Plenum Press,1990.