Fundamentals of Solar Cell Design

Fundamentals of Solar Cell Design is edited by one of the most well-respected and prolific engineers in the world and his team. This book provides a comprehensive overview of solar cells, exploring the history of evolution and present scenarios of solar cell design, classification, properties, various semiconductor materials, thin films, wafer-scale, transparent solar cells, and other fundamentals of solar cell design.

Solar cells are semiconductor devices that convert light photons into electricity through photovoltaic energy conversion, helping to overcome the global energy crisis. With applications in remote area power systems, earth-orbiting satellites, wristwatches, water pumping, photodetectors, and remote radiotelephones, solar cell technology is economically feasible for commercial-scale power generation. Although commercial solar cells perform well and are stable, researchers continue to improve their performance and cost by modulating the fundamental properties of semiconductors. Solar cell technology is crucial for a clean energy future, as solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity, meeting the increasing demand for future global energy production.

Solar cell-based energy harvesting has garnered worldwide attention due to its notable features: affordable renewable technology, scalability, lightweight design, flexibility, versatility, no greenhouse gas emissions, and economy-friendly operational costs. Consequently, solar cell technology leads renewable energy technologies used in telecommunications, power plants, small devices, and satellites. Large-scale implementation can be achieved by exploring various types of solar cell designs and new materials to improve performance and reduce costs. Thus, in-depth knowledge about solar cell design is essential for those applying this understanding in industry and academia.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of solar cells, delving into their history, evolution, and present scenarios of design, classification, and properties. It covers various semiconductor materials, thin films, wafer-scale, transparent solar cells, and includes topics such as characterization, analytical tools, theoretical modelling, practices to enhance conversion efficiencies, applications, and patents.

This outstanding new volume:

• Provides state-of-the-art information about solar cells
• Serves as a unique reference guide for researchers in solar energy
• Includes novel innovations in the field of solar cell technology

Audience: This book is a unique reference guide for faculty, students, researchers, engineers, device designers, and industrialists working in the fields of semiconductors, chemistry, physics, electronics, light science, material science, flexible energy conversion, industrial, and renewable energy sectors.