Photovoltaic
Photovoltaik
4 CPirregularlyENno longer offered
Prerequisites
Recommended, as written
Fundamental knowledge in physics and engineering (after introductory study period / nach dem Grundstudium)
Contents
(1) Crash course in semiconductor physics: (a) electrons and holes in semiconductors, (b) generation, transport and recombination of charge carriers, (c) p-n junction under illumination. (2) Solar cell materials, with main focus on crystalline silicon. (3) About steps of semiconductor technology needed for solar cell fabrication.
Learning outcomes
Students will get an introduction to photovoltaics, including basics about operation and fabrication of solar cells.
Assessment
Verbal examination, 45 min: including a 30 min seminar talk about a related topic
Literature (1)
- Copies of viewgraphs will be made available. Suggested literature: [1] H.J. Möller “Semiconductors for solar cells”, Artech House, Boston – London, 1993, [2] S.M. Sze, chapter 14 in “Physics of Semiconductor Devices”, John Wiley & Sons, New York …, 1981
Remarks
Photovoltaics is a strongly growing field and it starts to become an industry with multi billion revenue, comparable to microelectronics at present. One expects that within a few decades more than 10 percent of the world-wide energy will be produced by solar cells. During the lecture the main concepts will be depicted in an understandable style. Compulsory elective module in "Applied Physics" of the study programme Physics M.Sc.
Source: BTU's module description · retrieved 21 Oct 2026Original