Nanostructured Materials for Solar Energy Conversion

Tetsuo Soga

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780444528445
• eBook ISBN: 9780080468303
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

Nanostructured Materials for Solar Energy Conversion covers a wide variety of materials and device types from inorganic materials to organic materials. This book deals with basic semiconductor physics, modelling of nanostructured solar cell, nanostructure of conventional solar cells such as silicon, CIS and CdTe, dye-sensitized solar cell, organic solar cell, photosynthetic materials, fullerene, extremely thin absorber (ETA) solar cell, quantum structured solar cell, intermediate band solar cell, carbon nanotube, etc. including basic principle and the latest results. There are many books written on conventional p-n junction solar cells, but few books focus on new concepts in this area.* Focuses on the use of nanostructured materials for solar energy* Looks at a wide variety of materials and device types* Covers both organic and inorganic materials

Part I

Fundamentals of Nanostructured Solar Cells

Outline

Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Solar Cell

Chapter 2: Device Modeling of Nano-Structured Solar Cells

Chapter 3: Optical and Electrical Modeling of Nanocrystalline Solar Cells

Chapter 4: Mathematical Modelling of the Refractive Index and Reflectivity of the Quantum Well Solar Cell

Chapter 1

Fundamentals of Solar Cell

Tetsuo Soga, Department of Environmental Technology and Urban Planning, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan

Publisher Summary

This chapter deals with the fundamentals of solar cells. A solar cell is a key device that converts light energy into electrical energy in a photovoltaic energy conversion. In most cases, semiconductor is used for solar cell material. The energy conversion consists of absorption of light (photon) energy producing electron–hole pairs in a semiconductor and charge carrier separation. The p–n junction is commonly used for solar cell. The important role of p–n junction is the charge separation of light-induced electrons and holes. A p–n junction is used for charge carrier separation in most cases. This chapter begins with the basic semiconductor physics that is necessary to understand the operation of p–n junction solar cell, and then describes the basic principles of p–n junction solar cell. The concepts of solar cell using nanocrystalline materials are also explained. Because the solar cells based on nanocrystalline materials are complicated as compared to the conventional p–n junction solar cell, the fundamental phenomena are reviewed in the chapter.

1. INTRODUCTION

Solar cell is a key device that converts the light energy into the electrical energy in photovoltaic energy conversion. In most cases, semiconductor is used for solar cell material. The energy conversion consists of absorption of light (photon) energy producing electron–hole pairs in a semiconductor and charge carrier separation. A p–n junction is used for charge carrier separation in most cases. It is important to learn the basic properties of semiconductor and the principle of conventional p–n junction solar cell to understand not only the conventional solar cell but also the new type of solar cell. The comprehension of the p–n junction solar cell will give you hints to improve solar cells regarding efficiency, manufacturing cost, consuming energy for the fabrication, etc. This chapter begins with the basic semiconductor physics, which is necessary to understand the operation of p–n junction solar cell, and then describes the basic principles of p–n junction solar cell. It ends with the concepts of solar cell using nanocrystalline materials. Because the solar cells based on nanocrystalline materials are complicated compared with the conventional p–n junction solar cell, the fundamental phenomena are reviewed.

2. FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF SEMICONDUCTORS [1–5]

2.1. Energy Band and Carrier Concentration

The electrons of an isolated atom have discrete energy levels. When atoms approach to form crystals, the energy levels split into separate but closely spaced levels because of atomic interaction, which results in a continuous energy band. Between the two bands – the lower called the valence band and the...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Part I: Fundamentals of Nanostructured Solar Cells
• Part II: Nanostructures in Conventional Thin Film Solar Cells
• Part III: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
• Part IV: Organic- and Carbon-Based Solar Cells
• Part V: Other Nanostructures
• Index