2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Chemistry 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 (Face-to-face)
- 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
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Solar power is one of the key renewable energy sources and is based on solar cells. This course covers an overview of solar power generation, the photovoltaic effect, semiconductor physics, solar cells, the latest solar cell designs, and the fundamentals of solar panels.
In this course, we will provide a comprehensive review of solar power generation. Additionally, we will explain the semiconductor physics essential for understanding the operation of solar cells. Thereafter, we will explore the principles of solar cell power generation, the structure of solar cells, and methods for enhancing efficiency. Finally, we will explain the structure of solar panels.
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. 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 lecture, the instructor will review the solutions to the exercises assigned in the previous lecture and address any questions. Prior to each class, students are expected to review the course syllabus to confirm the topics that will be covered.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Structure of photovoltaic power generation system and current status of photovoltaic power generation | Students will be able to understand the basic structure of photovoltaic power generation system and current status of photovoltaic power generation. |
| Class 2 | Basics of sunlight and photovoltaic effect | Students will be able to 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 | Students will be able to 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 | Students will be able to 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 | Students will be able to 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 | Students will be able to understand the relationship between the solar cell parameters and the semiconductor properties. |
| Class 8 | Basic characterization techniques of solar cells | Students will be able to understand the basic characterization techniques of solar cells. |
| Class 9 | Conventional silicon solar cell technology | Students will be able to explain the structure and fabrication process of conventional silicon solar cells. |
| Class 10 | Improved silicon solar cell technology-PERC cell, selective emitter cell | Students will be able to explain the basic features of PERC cell and selective emitter cell. |
| Class 11 | Improved silicon solar cell technology-Heterojunction and TOPCon technologies | Students will be able to explain the basic feature of silicon heterojunction and TOPCon technologies. |
| Class 12 | Thin film solar cells –CIGS, CdTe, Perovskite solar cell | Students will be able to explain the basic features of compound semiconductor thin film solar cells. |
| Class 13 | Ultra-high efficiency solar cells | Students will be able to explain the basic features of ultra-high efficiency solar cells. |
| Class 14 | Basics of PV module (solar panel) | Students will be able to 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)
No textbook will be used. Materials will be distributed online.
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 a final exam (70%), a midterm report (20%), and exercises from each class (10%). The final exam will be held in person at the Ookayama campus.
Related courses
- EEE.D211 ： Semiconductor Physics
- ENR.H410 ： Topics in Properties of Semiconductors
Prerequisites
It is desirable for students to possess a basic understanding of semiconductor materials and quantum mechanics (or quantum chemistry).
Other
Lectures will be held in-person (please note that this is different from previous years).