Photovoltaics

Owner	Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator	Peter Schall
Part of	Master Physics and Astronomy, track Advanced Matter and Energy Physics, Master Physics and Astronomy, track Science for Energy and Sustainability, Master Chemistry (joint degree), track Science for Energy and Sustainability,

Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

Photovoltaic conversion brings the promise of sustainable energy generation capable of meeting the ever growing demand. This explains the current interest and is best illustrated by the massive deployment of solar panels in solar farms and integrated systems in countries worldwide. This lecture course introduces the most important concepts from solid-state physics and (nano)technology which form scientific foundations of photovoltaics, giving a starting point for understanding of its principles, prospects, as well as limitations and bottlenecks. The lectures are given by work-group leaders working at UvA, AMOLF and also TNO, and next to the basics of operation and application will provide also a comprehensive overview of current activities at the forefront of the research in the field of modern (nano)photovoltaics.

After a short resume on light matter interactions and optical resonances, the following topics will be addressed in some detail:

• Photovoltaic cells, modules, systems and applications (overview) (WS)
• Light management for photovoltaics (AP)
• Nanomaterials for photovoltaics (EG)
• Nanohybrid and 3D solar cells (EAL)
• Solar shapers and concentrators (PS)
• PV materials by self-assembly (PS)

Besides lectures, trips to laboratories of AMOLF and TNO/Solliance (Eindhoven) will be organized to illustrate the photovoltaic research in practice. For those interested, the course can provide an ideal gateway to a research project for the last year of the MSc track.

Study materials

Literature

• The book “Solar Energy: the Physics and Engineering of Photovoltaic Conversion Technologies and Systems” by Arno Smets, Klaus Jäger, Olindo Isabella, René van Swaaij and Miro Zeman (2016) will be made available as pdf.

Other

• Lecture notes.
• Original research articles.

Objectives

• be able to describe how the photovoltaic cell works and understand the physic processes determining its spectral response, internal and external efficiency and limitations.
• be able to show and explain the limiting factors and bottleneck of photovoltaics
• be aware of (some) of the prominent research avenues towards highly efficient (nano)photovoltaics of next generation.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Presentation/symposium
• homework assignments

Lectures and moderated discussions by teachers, presentations by students, homework assignments.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

In addition to, or instead of, classes in the form of lectures, the elements of the master’s examination programme often include a practical component as defined in article A-1.2 of part A. The course catalogue contains information on the types of classes in each part of the programme. Attendance during practical components is mandatory.

Assessment

Item and weight	Details
Final grade

The course will be assessed on the basis of weekly assignments (5), a presentation (1 per student), and the final exam: participation in all the three component is obligatory.

Homework assignments will be given once a week – a single assignment per lecturer, 5 in total (no assignment following the first/last lectures. They will have to be delivered individually within a week. Teaching assistants (TA, one TA per lecturer/assignment) will be available for on-line consultations all the time and students are encouraged to make use of that. After delivery, your homework will be checked and graded by TA’s. The individual grades will appear on the Canvas site of the course; feedback will be provided by TA’s on-line and upon request.

Materials for students’ presentations will be assigned during the first lecture and the relevant material will be placed on the Canvas site. Every student will be asked to prepare a presentation during the course (one per student). All the students are expected to familiarize him/her-self with the article to be presented during a particular lecture, prepare at least one question, and take active part in the discussion. Presentations will be graded on (i) contents, (ii) context, (iii) style/format, and (iv) follow-up discussion. The feedback for the presenters will be provided.

The final grade will be determined as an average of the graded assignments (5), the presentation (1), and the examination – weighted as:

final grade = [assignment grades (5×) + presentation grade]×8% + examination grade×52%.

In order successfully complete the course all the assignments need to be handed in and a presentation has to be given.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge: the course 'Mathematica for Physicists' is highly recommended.

Contact information

Coordinator

• Peter Schall

·         Peter Schall

address: WZI, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam room: C.4.228

telephone: 020-5256314

e-mail: p.schall@uva.nl

·         Wim Sinke

address: WZI, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam room: C.4.245

telephone: 020-5255793 e-mail: w.sinke@uva.nl

·         Albert Polman

address: AMOLF, Science Park 104 , 1098 XG Amsterdam room: AMOLF 2.48

telephone: 020-7547100

e-mail: a.polman@amolf.nl

 

• Jorik van de Groep

address: WZI, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, room: C4.245

telephone: 020-5255643

e-mail: j.vandegroep@uva.nl

·         Erik Garnett

address: AMOLF, Science Park 104 , 1098 XG Amsterdam room: AMOLF 2.03

telephone: 020-7547231

e-mail: e.garnett@amolf.nl

·         Esther Alarcon Llado

address: AMOLF, Science Park 104 , 1098 XG Amsterdam room: AMOLF

telephone: 020-7547320

e-mail: E.Alarconllado@amolf.nl

 

 

Teaching assistants:

Tom Veeken (t.p.n.veeken@uva.nl)

Susan Rigter (S.Rigter@amolf.nl)

Marco van der Laan (m.vanderlaan@uva.nl)

Yorik Bleiji (y.bleiji@amolf.nl)

 

Consultations

Consultations are possible directly after the lectures, on appointment, and on-line (recommended).