Solar Cells, 2nd Edition

Key Features

• A thorough update to the definitive reference to solar cells, created by a cast of international experts from industry and academia to ensure the highest quality information from multiple perspectives
• Covers the whole spectrum of solar cell information, from basic scientific background, to the latest advances in materials, to manufacturing issues, to testing and calibration.
• Case studies, practical examples and reports on the latest advances take the new edition of this amazing resource beyond a simple amalgamation of a vast amount of knowledge, into the realm of real world applications

Description

Enormous leaps forward in the efficiency and the economy of solar cells are being made at a furious pace. New materials and manufacturing processes have opened up new realms of possibility for the application of solar cells. Crystalline silicon cells are increasingly making way for thin film cells, which are spawning experimentation with third-generation high-efficiency multijunction cells, carbon-nanotube based cells, UV light for voltage enhancement, and the use of the infrared spectrum for night-time operation, to name only a few recent advances.

This thoroughly updated new edition of Markvart and Castaner’s Solar Cells, extracted from their industry standard Practical Handbook of Photovoltaics, is the definitive reference covering the science and operation, materials and manufacture of solar cells. It is essential reading for engineers, installers, designers, and policy-makers who need to understand the science behind the solar cells of today, and tomorrow, in order to take solar energy to the next level.

Readership

Solar cell manufacturers, R&D Depts, PV equipment manufacturers and installers, environmental engineers, consultants, academics

Solar Cells, 2nd Edition

Introduction: Principles of solar cell operation; Semiconductor materials and modeling; Ideal efficiencies
Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells: Silicon: Manufacture and Properties; Low cost industrial manufacture of crystalline silicon solar cells; Thin silicon solar cells; Characterization and diagnosis of silicon wafers and devices; High-efficiency silicon solar cell concepts
Thin Film Technologies: Amorphous silicon solar cells; Microcrystalline silicon solar cells; Cadmium telluride thin-film PV modules; Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cells
Space and Concentrator Cells: GaAs and high-efficiency space cells; High-efficiency concentrator silicon solar cells
Organic and Dye Sensitized Cells: Photoelectrochemical solar cells; Organic and Plastic Solar Cells
Testing, Monitoring and Calibration: Standards, calibration and testing of PV modules and solar cells; PV System Monitoring; Calibration, testing and monitoring of space solar cells
Appendices
A Constants, Physical Quantities and Conversion Factors
B List of Principle Symbols
C Abbreviations and Acronyms
D Bibliography
E International and US Standards with Relevance to Photovoltaics
F Useful Websites, Journals and Newsheets