Catalog

Fundamentals of Photovoltaics

Mechanical Engineering MIT CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 26 lectures

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, risk analysis, and technology evolution in the context of markets, policies, society, and environment. This course is one of many [OCW Energy Courses](/courses/energy-courses/), and it is an elective subject in MIT's undergraduate {{% resource_link "a50644fd-3c74-4d1e-807f-99bdd0863197" "Energy Studies Minor" %}}. This Institute–wide program complements the deep expertise obtained in any major with a broad understanding of the interlinked realms of science, technology, and social sciences as they relate to energy and associated environmental challenges.

Syllabus

  1. 1 2011 Student Project Presentations, Part 1
  2. 2 2011 Student Project Presentations, Part 2
  3. 3 2011 Lecture 1: Introduction
  4. 4 2011 Lecture 2: The Solar Resource
  5. 5 2011 Lecture 3: Light Absorption and Optical Losses
  6. 6 2011 Lecture 4: Charge Excitation
  7. 7 2011 Lecture 5: Charge Separation, Part I
  8. 8 2011 Lecture 6: Charge Separation, Part II
  9. 9 2011 Lecture 7: Toward a 1D Device Model, Part I: Device Fundamentals
  10. 10 2011 Lecture 8: Toward a 1D Device Model, Part II: Material Fundamentals
  11. 11 2011 Lecture 9: Charge Extraction
  12. 12 2011 Lecture 10: Wafer Silicon-Based Solar Cells, Part I
  13. 13 2011 Lecture 11: Wafer Silicon-Based Solar Cells, Part II
  14. 14 2011 Lecture 12: Thin Films: Materials Choices and Manufacturing, Part I
  15. 15 2011 Lecture 13: Thin Films: Materials Choices and Manufacturing, Part II
  16. 16 2011 Lecture 14: PV Efficiency: Measurement and Theoretical Limits
  17. 17 2011 Lecture 15: Advanced Concepts
  18. 18 2011 Lecture 16: Solar Cell Characterization
  19. 19 2011 Lecture 17: Modules, Systems, and Reliability
  20. 20 2011 Lecture 18: Cost, Price, Markets, & Support Mechanisms, Part I
  21. 21 2011 Lecture 19: Cost, Price, Markets, & Support Mechanisms, Part II
  22. 22 2011 Lecture 20: R&D Investment & Innovation in PV
  23. 23 Tutorial: Texturing
  24. 24 Tutorial: Doping
  25. 25 Tutorial: Photoconductivity
  26. 26 Tutorial: Solar Cell Operation

Course materials