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2.627 Fundamentals of Photovoltaics

2.627 Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (Fall 2011, MIT OCW). Instructor: Prof. Tonio Buonassisi. In this course, students learn about the fundamentals of photoelectric conversion: charge excitation, conduction, separation, and collection. Lectures cover commercial and emerging photovoltaic technologies and cross-cutting themes, including conversion efficiencies, loss mechanisms, characterization, manufacturing, systems, reliability, life-cycle analysis, and risk analysis. Some of the course will also be devoted to discussing photovoltaic technology evolution in the context of markets, policies, society, and environment. (from ocw.mit.edu)

Lecture 03 - Light Absorption and Optical Losses

Photon interactions with matter. Optical losses in solar cells. Photon management strategies in PV devices (anti-reflection coatings, plasmonics, texturization, etc.)


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Lecture 01 - Introduction
Lecture 02 - The Solar Resource
Lecture 03 - Light Absorption and Optical Losses
Lecture 04 - Charge Excitation
Lecture 05 - Charge Separation, Part I: Diode
Lecture 06 - Charge Separation, Part II: Diode Under Illumination
Lecture 07 - Toward a 1D Device Model, Part I: Device Fundamentals
Lecture 08 - Toward a 1D Device Model, Part II: Material Fundamentals
Lecture 09 - Charge Extraction
Lecture 10 - Wafer Silicon-Based Solar Cells, Part I
Lecture 11 - Wafer Silicon-Based Solar Cells, Part II
Lecture 12 - Thin Films: Material Choices and Manufacturing, Part I
Lecture 13 - Thin Films: Material Choices and Manufacturing, Part II
Lecture 14 - PV Efficiency: Measurement and Theoretical Limits
Lecture 15 - Advanced Concepts
Lecture 16 - Solar Cell Characterization
Lecture 17 - Modules, Systems, and Reliability
Lecture 18 - Cost, Price, Markets, and Support Mechanisms, Part I
Lecture 19 - Cost, Price, Markets, and Support Mechanisms, Part II
Lecture 20 - R&D Investment and Innovation in PV