Handbook of the Physics of Thin-Film Solar Cells

This handbook is a compendium giving a comprehensive description of the basics of semiconductor physics relevant to the design and analysis of thin film solar cell materials. It starts from the basics of material science, describing the material and its growth, defect and electrical properties, the basics of its interaction with photons and the involved statistics, proceeding to space charge effects in semiconductors and pn-junctions. Most attention is given to analyze homo- and hetero-junction solar cells using various models and applying the field-of-direction analysis for discussing current voltage characteristics, and helping to discover the involvement of high-field effects in solar cells. The comprehensive coverage of the main topics of - and relating to - solar cells with extensive reference to literature helps scientists and engineers at all levels to reach a better understanding and im provement of solar cell properties and their production. The author is one of the founders of thin film solar cell research.

Provides an extensive physics analysis of most important types of solar cells and their operation

From the Contents: Structure and growth of semiconductors.- Creation and motion of lattice defects.- Photochemical reactions.- Lattice defects, grain boundaries, surfaces, interfaces.- Shallow level centers.- Deep level centers.- Carrier scattering at low fields (phonons, small defects).- Carrier mobility influenced by large defects.- Highly doped semiconductors.- Drift, diffusion currents and quasi Fermi levels.- Electron statistics, Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac.-Electron generation and tunneling, quasi Fermi levels.

This book covers the basics of semiconductor physics in the design and analysis of thin film solar cell materials, from material science to space charge effects in semiconductors and pn-junctions. Includes tools for analyzing voltage and high-field effects.