Solar Cell Device Physics

by Stephen Fonash

Overview

There has been an enormous infusion of new ideas in the field of solar cells over the last 15 years; discourse on energy transfer has gotten much richer, and nanostructures and nanomaterials have revolutionized the possibilities for new technological developments. However, solar energy cannot become ubiquitous in the world's power markets unless it can become economically competitive with legacy generation methods such as fossil fuels.

The new edition of Dr. Stephen Fonash's definitive text points the way toward greater efficiency and cheaper production by adding coverage of cutting-edge topics in plasmonics, multi-exiton generation processes, nanostructures and nanomaterials such as quantum dots. The book's new structure improves readability by shifting many detailed equations to appendices, and balances the first edition's semiconductor coverage with an emphasis on thin-films. Further, it now demonstrates physical principles with simulations in the well-known AMPS computer code developed by the author.

• Classic text now updated with new advances in nanomaterials and thin films that point the way to cheaper, more efficient solar energy production
• Many of the detailed equations from the first edition have been shifted to appendices in order to improve readability
• Important theoretical points are now accompanied by concrete demonstrations via included simulations created with the well-known AMPS computer code

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493301133
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	04/30/2010
Edition description:	2nd Revised ed.
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Fonash is Bayard D. Kunkle Chair Professor Emeritus of Engineering Sciences at Penn State University and Chief Technology Officer of Solarity LCCM, LLC. His activities at Penn State include serving as the director of Penn State’s Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU), director of the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Center, and director of the Pennsylvania Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology Partnership.

Prof. Fonash’s education contributions focus on nanotechnology post-secondary education and workforce development. His research activities encompass the processing and device physics of micro- and nanostructures including solar cells, sensors, and transistors. He has published over 300 refereed papers in the areas of education, nanotechnology, photovoltaics, microelectronics devices and processing, sensors, and thin film transistors. His book “Solar Cell Device Physics” has been termed the “bible of solar cell physics” and his solar cell computer modeling code AMPS is used by almost 800 groups around the world. Dr. Fonash holds 29 patents in his research areas, many of which are licensed to industry. He is on multiple journal boards, serves as an advisor to university and government groups, has consulted for a variety of firms, and has co-founded two companies. Prof. Fonash received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Properties Basic to Photovoltaic Energy Conversion 
3. Solar Cell Materials and Structures
4. Homojunction Solar Cells
5. Semiconductor-Semiconductor Heterojunction Cells
6. Surface-Barrier Solar Cells

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

The definitive resource on the science of solar cells is now updated to cover the advances powering the solar revolution of the last 20 years, and the applications that will determine solar energy's future viability

Editorial Reviews

"I'm a big fan of this book. It’s one of the best PV textbooks out there, and in particular it provides unparalleled discussion of the device physics of solar cells." —Associate Professor Kylie Catchpole, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University

From the Publisher