2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering Graduate major in Energy Science and Informatics
Introduction to Photovoltaics
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Energy Science and Informatics
- Instructor(s)
- Shinsuke Miyajima
- Class Format
- Lecture (Blended)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon / 5-6 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ESI.L410
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is known as an important renewable energy. Photovoltaic power generation is based on solar cells. Topics covered in this course will include the following: outline of PV power generation, basics of photovoltaics effect, semiconductor physics, solar cells, advanced design of solar cells, and PV pannels.
This course will provide a comprehensive overview of photovoltaics power generation. Next, basic semiconductor physics which are required to understand the operation of solar cells will be introduced. The course will demonstrate how solar cells generate electricity, structures of solar cells and techniques to improve the conversion efficiency. The course will be concluded by discussing PV systems.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the photovoltaic effect
2. Explain the operation of solar cells and conversion efficiency
3. Illustrate the structure of high efficiency solar cells
4. Explain how solar cells are manufactured
5. Analyze solar cells by using device simulator
6. Understand the outline of PV systems
Keywords
Photovoltaic effect, Solar cells, Semiconductor, pn junction, Heterojunction, Thin films
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of each class, solutions to exercise problems that were assigned during the previous class are reviewed. The instructor will take questions during this time. Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to the lecture given that day to solve. To prepare for class, students should read the course schedule section and check what topics will be covered. Students are required to study outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Structure of photovoltaic power generation system and current status of photovoltaic power generation | Understand the basic structure of photovoltaic power generation system and current status of photovoltaic power generation. |
| Class 2 | Basics of sunlight and photovoltaic effect | Understand the basic feature of solar spectrum and the mechanism of photovoltaic effect. |
| Class 3 | Review of semiconductor properties: optical absorption, carrier recombination, carrier continuity equation, pn junction | Understand the basic properties of semiconductor materials which are required to understand the operation of solar cell. |
| Class 4 | Conversion of light energy into chemical energy and extraction of electrical energy | Understand the chemical energy produced in semiconductors by light irradiation and the extraction of electrical energy from semiconductors. |
| Class 5 | Theoretical efficiency of solar cells | Understand the efficiency limit of a solar cell. |
| Class 6 | Equivalent circuit and output parameters of solar cell | Understand equivalent circuit of solar cell and output parameters of solar cell. |
| Class 7 | Analysis of solar cell using pn junction : Relationship between semiconductor properites and solar cell perameters | Understand the relationship between the solar cell parameters and the semiconductor properties. |
| Class 8 | Basic characterization techniques of solar cells | Understand the basic characterization techniques of solar cells. |
| Class 9 | Conventional silicon solar cell technology | Explain the structure and fabrication process of conventional silicon solar cells. |
| Class 10 | Improved silicon solar cell technology-PERC cell, selective emitter cell | Explain the basic features of PERC cell and selective emitter cell. |
| Class 11 | Improved silicon solar cell technology-Heterojunction and TOPCon technologies | Explain the basic feature of silicon heterojunction and TOPCon technologies. |
| Class 12 | Thin film solar cells –CIGS, CdTe, Perovskite solar cell | Explain the basic features of compound semiconductor thin film solar cells. |
| Class 13 | Ultra-high efficiency solar cells | Explain the basic features of ultra-high efficiency solar cells. |
| Class 14 | Basics of PV module (solar panel) | Explain the basic structure of PV module and characterization techniques. |
| Class 15 | Final exam |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to reference books and other course material.
Textbook(s)
There is no textbook for the lectures. Reading materials will be distributed on the web.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
M. Green, "Solar Cells, Operating Principles, Technology and System Applications" Prentice-Hall Inc.
S.M.Sze, K.K. Ng, "Physics of Semiconductor Devices 3rd Ed." Wiley Chapter 13 Solar Cells
A list of references will be provided where necessary.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be based on the final exam (50%), mid-term report (30%) and exercises in each class.
Please note that students who receive less than 50% on the final exam will not receive the credit.
The final exam will be held in person at "Ookayama campus".
Related courses
- EEE.D211 ： Semiconductor Physics
- ENR.H410 ： Topics in Properties of Semiconductors
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have basic knowledge of semiconductor materials, quantum mechanics (or quantum chemistry).
Other
Due to long absence of the lecturer, the first six lectures will be given via video through T2Scholar system. I will make a slack channel for questions, etc. After the seventh lecture, lectures will be given via zoom as in previous years.