The Physics of Solar Cells

by Jenny A Nelson

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of the photovoltaic cell. It is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers new to the field. It basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices; physical models of solar cell operation; characteristics and design of common types of solar cell; and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. The text explains the terms and concepts of solar cell device physics and shows the reader how to formulate and solve relevant physical problems. Exercises and worked solutions are included.

Genres: Textbooks

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2003

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the most important mathematic and physics concepts and equations when studying solar cells. Very communicative, focused, and accessible to someone with a background in physics, engineering, or math to get a background in the flow of electricity through photovoltaics. Great for bedtime reading or when you need to get away from too many same-old, same-old romance novels.

[Particle_Person · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know some physics already and want to learn about solar cells, this is probably the best intro I know of. The book lies somewhere between a textbook and a popular book. You can read it in bed to get the gist, or you can read it at a desk with a notebook and work through some problems. I just wish it came in ebook form because I keep referencing it.

[Jehona · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good textbook. It assumes that the reader has some knowledge of physics (at least undergrad) and mathematics. So, if you want to read it, make sure you are prepared. Read some optics and some material science first. It is not a technical manual as some people seem to assume. It includes technical information, but it is a physics book. The main thing I disliked was how the plots looked. Some were hard to understand because it wasn't clear what was what. I didn't see what people were complaining about until I came to plots in which I had to guess which line was what colour.

[Apurva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was used as a reference for my advanced solar energy conversion class. It does a good job covering all the basic physics of a solar cell from the light spectrum and absorption to diffusion, drift and energy generation.

[ThinkingCrumpet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to solar cells, shines light on the theoretical concepts and well written. Liked the summary section at the end of each chapter, helps you recapitulate.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

this crappy book contains a lot of information. too bad the information was scattered around in such a mess of a book. the organization is crappy (terms are often used but not explained until much later. most of the final chapter should have been like chapter 3). the presentation is crappy (the graphs looked like they were made by a 12-year-old using an early version of excel. there were very few diagrams at all, and what few there were were crappy). the writing is crappy (no personality. very little explanation of physical concepts or practical matters.) even the editing was crappy (there were dozens of obvious typos).

there are endless mathematical derivations of ideal cases, and then of course in order to make these massive integrals computable they have to make additional simplifications. so you end up with some useless formula, which at least would presuambly then allow a nice discussion of what it means and how it compares with actual solar cells. this section usually gets 3 or 4 brief sentences, tops.

sadly, however, i couldn't find any other technical book published in the past 5 years for under $100. i suppose it's the nature of these fast-moving fields, that no one is willing to write/publish a book that will be obselete in 10 years. so i guess i'll just read stuff on the web, mainly, from now on. i do recommend the less technical book Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar Cells

[Scott Singer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full of typos/errors and graphs are not that great. Easy read, good intro to solar cells, but was looking for something more challenging.

[Nikhil Gupta]

Book is great