Standard Course Syllabus Course Supervisor Date of Approval

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Ringel June 23, 2000

835.01 Advanced Photovoltaics

2. CATALOG DESCRIPTION

Fundamentals of nanostructured semiconductors for photovoltaics; space solar cells; optoelectronic properties of

semiconductors; physics, operation, and design of compound semiconductor solar cells.

Quarters of Offering Credits
Level Class Meeting

Wi Qtr (odd years). 3 G 3 cl.

Course Prerequisites

Prereq: 730.

3. PREREQUISITES BY TOPIC

PN junction device physics; semiconductor physics; electronic and basic optical properties of elemental and compound

semiconductors.

Courses that require this as a direct prerequisite

none

4. Text(s) and Other Course Materials Author(s) Publisher

No text

References (supplemental reading)

[1] Electronic Thin Film Science for Electrical Engineers and Materials Scientists, by K.N. Tu, J.W. Mayer and L.C.

Feldman, MacMillan Publishing Co, New York, 1992.

[2] The Materials Science of Thin Films, by M. Ohring, Academic Press, Boston, 1991.

[3] Modular Series on Solid State Devices Vol. VI, "Advanced Semiconductor Fundamentals," by R.R. Pierret, Addison

Wesley, 1989.

[4] Modular Series on Solid State Devices Vol. VIII, "Quantum Phenomena," by S. Datta, Addison Wesley, 1989.

[5] Physics and Applications of Semiconductor Microstructures, by M. Jaros, Oxford Science, 1989.

[6] Quantum Semiconductor Structures, by C. Weisbuch and B. Vinter, Harcourt Brace, 1991.

5. COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. The students will learn about the electronic and optical properties of semiconductor micro- and nanostructures.

2. The students will learn about the use of heterojunctions and nanostructures to enable novel optoelectronic devices in a

general sense.

3. The students will learn about the internal electronic and optical physics of solar cell operation.

4. The students will learn about how micro- and nanostructures are used in photovoltaics.

5. The students will learn about high efficiency compound semiconductor solar cells.

6. The students will learn about space solar cells and space-related issues for photovoltaics.

7. The students will be exposed to future concepts for space power generation via photovoltaics.

6. TOPICS AND (# OF LECTURES)

Semiconductor heterojunctions - synthesis and properties (4)

Transport in heterojunctions (3)

Two-dimensional, one-dimensional and zero-dimensional nanostructures (3)

The terrestrial and space solar spectrum and environment (2)

Solar cell physics and operation - electronic transport and optical absorption (4)

Compound semiconductor solar cell design and physics (6)

Space solar cells (2)

The space environment - radiation effects; Earth; Mars; interplanetary (2)

Future concepts (2)

Exams; reviews (2)

7. CLASS MEETING PATTERN (For example, "3cl." means 3 48-min classes per week.)

3 cl.

Thursday, August 14, 2008 09:23 AM

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