This book explores the scientific basis of the photovoltaic effect, solar cell operation, various types of solar cells, and the main process used in their manufacture. It addresses a range of topics, including the production of solar silicon; silicon-based solar cells and modules; the choice of semiconductor materials and their production-relevant costs and performance; device structures, processing, and manufacturing options for the three major thin-film PV technologies; high-performance approaches for multi-junction, concentrator, and space applications; and new types of organic polymer and dye-sensitized solar cells. The book also presents a concept for overcoming the efficiency limit of today’s solar cells.
Accessible for beginners, while also providing detailed information on the physics and technology for experts, the book is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in fields such as physics, materials, energy, electrical and electronic engineering and microelectronics.
Chunfu Zhang received his B.Eng. degree in Optoelectronic Technology and the M.Eng. degree in Microelectronics from Xidian University, Xi’an, China, in 2002 and 2005, respectively. From 2005 to 2009, he completed his Ph.D. degree at the Silicon Nano Device Laboratory (SNDL), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS). He then worked as a researcher at SNDL and at the Institute of Microelectronics, A∗STAR, Singapore. Since January 2011, he has worked at Xidian University, where he is a Full Professor and Huashan Scholar. His current research focuses on solar cells, including organic solar cells, perovskite solar cells, and silicon solar cells. Professor Chunfu Zhang has published more than 100 papers and holds more than 20 patents.
