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A Primer on Photovoltaic Generators

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Hybrid and Fully Thermoelectric Solar Harvesting

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 268))

Abstract

The most common and efficient way to covert solar power into useful work is by photovoltaic generation. Photovoltaic cells are devices that convert radiative energy into electric energy. This chapter outlines the mechanism of photovoltaic conversion. The physical principles are introduced and described, and their implementation in real devices (cells and modules) is discussed with reference to the so called three solar cell generations, namely bulk cells, thin film cells, and cells based on dye sensitization. The role played by materials in each cell generation is also examined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Dario Narducci

  2. Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Peter Bermel & Kazuaki Yazawa

  3. University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Bruno Lorenzi

  4. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Yangling, China

    Ning Wang

Authors
  1. Dario Narducci
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  2. Peter Bermel
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  3. Bruno Lorenzi
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  4. Ning Wang
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  5. Kazuaki Yazawa
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Correspondence to Dario Narducci .

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Narducci, D., Bermel, P., Lorenzi, B., Wang, N., Yazawa, K. (2018). A Primer on Photovoltaic Generators. In: Hybrid and Fully Thermoelectric Solar Harvesting. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 268. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76427-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76427-6_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76427-6

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