Contents
|
List of
Symbols and Terms / ix
|
Preface
/ xv
|
Chapter
1 Introduction to Solar Cells / 1
|
| |
1.1 Philosophy
of the Text / 1
|
| |
1.2 Renewable
Energy and Photovoltaics Background / 2
|
| |
1.3 What
is a Solar Cell? / 4
|
| |
1.4 Solar
Cell Modules / 10
|
Chapter
2 Absorbing Solar Energy / 15
|
| |
2.1 Air
Mass and the Solar Spectrum / 15
|
| |
2.2 Optical
Properties of Solar-Cell Materials / 19
|
| |
|
2.2.1 Absorptivity
/ 19
|
| |
|
2.2.2 Absorption
coefficient / 20
|
| |
|
2.2.3 Solar cell
bandgap / 23
|
| |
|
2.2.4 Antireflection
coatings / 26
|
| |
|
2.2.5 Thickness determination
/ 29
|
| |
|
2.2.6 Predicting
absorptivity / 30
|
| |
2.3 Photoluminescence
/ 32
|
Chapter
3 Solar Cell Equations / 37
|
| |
3.1 PV
Device Characteristics / 37
|
| |
3.2 Quantum
Efficiency for Current Collection / 41
|
| |
3.3 Lifetime,
Diffusion Length, and Electron Concentrations / 44
|
| |
3.4 The
Transport Equation and Current Extraction / 46
|
Chapter
4 Photoelectrochemistry / 51
|
| |
4.1 Basic
Photoelectrochemistry / 51
|
| |
4.2 The
Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline Solar Cell / 51
|
Chapter
5 Generalized Model of a Solar Converter / 57
|
| |
5.1 General
Thermodynamics of Light Conversion / 57
|
| |
5.2 Detailed
Balance: The Generalized Planck Equation / 59
|
| |
5.3 The
Luminescent Output / 65
|
| |
5.4 The
Relationship Between Voltage and Luminescence Efficiency
/ 66
|
| |
5.5 Current-Voltage
Characteristics and Luminescence / 67
|
Chapter
6 Concentrators of Light / 71
|
| |
6.1 The
Thermodynamic Limits of Light Concentrators / 71
|
| |
6.2 Geometrical
Optics / 71
|
| |
|
6.2.1 General theory
and sine brightness law / 71
|
| |
|
6.2.2 Examples of
ideal geometric concentrators / 73
|
| |
6.3 Active
Concentrators (Luminescent Systems) / 77
|
| |
|
6.3.1 Theory of luminescent
systems / 77
|
| |
6.4 Light
Enhancement in the Environment / 78
|
Chapter
7 Basic Economics of Photovoltaic Cells and Systems /
81
|
| |
7.1 The
Basics of PV Economics / 81
|
| |
7.2 Estimated
Solar Module Cost / 82
|
| |
7.3 Economics
of Photovoltaic Systems / 83
|
| |
7.4 Economics
of Renewable Energy in the World Economy / 85
|
| |
7.5 Conclusions
and Further Study / 90
|
Appendix
/ 91
|
A Basic
Solar Energy Library for the Optical Specialist / 93
|
Index /
97
|
from the burning of fossil fuels, it is desirable to have
a wide range of energy technologies in a nation's portfolio.
These technologies can be used in domestic markets, or exported
to other nations, helping them to leapfrog to a cleaner, and
less carbon intensive, energy path.