Optoelectronics of solar cells / Greg P. Smestad.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smestad, Greg P.

Contributor:

Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Series:

SPIE Press monograph ; PM115.

SPIE Press monograph ; PM115

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Solar cells.

Optics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (118 p.)

Place of Publication:

Bellingham, Wash. : SPIE Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

With concerns about worldwide environmental security, global warming, and climate change due to emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, it is desirable to have a wide range of energy technologies in a nation's portfolio. Photovoltaics, or solar cells, are a viable option as a nonpolluting renewable energy source. This text is designed to be an overview of photovoltaic solar cells for those in the fields of optics and optical engineering, as well as those who are interested in energy policy, economics, and the requirements for efficient photo-to-electric energy conversion.

Contents:

ch. 1. Introduction to solar cells

1.1. Philosophy of the text

1.2. Renewable energy and photovoltaics background

1.3. What is a solar cell?

1.4. Solar cell modules

ch. 2 Absorbing solar energy

2.1. Air mass and the solar spectrum

2.2. Optical properties of solar-cell materials

2.3. Photoluminescence

ch. 3. Solar cell equations

3.1 PV device characteristics

3.2. Quantum efficiency for current collection

3.3. Lifetime, diffusion length, and electron concentrations

3.4. The transport equation and current extraction

ch. 4. Photoelectrochemistry

4.1. Basic photoelectrochemistry

4.2. The dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cell

ch. 5. Generalized model of a solar converter

5.1. General thermodynamics of light conversion

5.2. Detailed balance : the generalized Planck equation

5.3. The luminescent output

5.4. The relationship between voltage and luminescence efficiency

5.5. Current-voltage characteristics and luminescence

ch. 6. Concentrators of light

6.1. The thermodynamic limits of light concentrators

6.2. Geometrical optics

6.3. Active concentrators (luminescent systems)

6.4. Light enhancement in the environment

ch. 7. Economics of photovoltaic cells and systems

7.1. The basics of PV economics

7.2. Estimated solar module cost

7.3. Economics of photovoltaic systems

7.4. Economics of solar energy in the world economy

7.5. Conclusions and further study

Appendix

A basic solar energy library for the optical specialist

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-96) and index.

ISBN:

9781628701029

1628701021

9780819480491

0819480495

OCLC:

606694640