Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells Coursera

Overview

This Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells offered by Coursera in partnership with École Polytechnique is the third MOOC of the photovoltaic series of Ecole polytechnique on Coursera. The general aspects of the photovoltaic field are treated in "Photovoltaic Solar Energy". And the detailed description of the crystalline silicon solar cells can be found in "Physics of Silicon Solar Cells".

Key facts

• After a brief presentation of solar cells operation, thin film semiconductors are described here. The general properties of disordered and crystalline semiconductors are found very different, in particular in terms of band structure and doping mechanisms. 

• Silicon thin films, generally less than 1 µm thick, are deposited from silane plasma leading to hydrogen incorporation. 

• The growth mechanisms are discussed, in particular the capability to prepare partially crystallized thin films which appear as a mixture of nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous tissue.