Understand the science, engineering implementation, and market and social forces driving this key solar energy technology.
This course is one of many OCW Energy Courses, and it is an elective subject in MIT's undergraduate 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.
It covers 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, risk analysis, and technology evolution in the context of markets, policies, society, and environment.
View the course, including complete lecture videos, at https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mechanical-engineering/2-627-fundamentals-of-photovoltaics-fall-2013
Image: A cross-section view of a generic solar cell. (Courtesy of PVCDROM. License CC BY-NC-SA)
Taught By: Prof. Tonio Buonassisi
