2.627 Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (Fall 2011, MIT OCW). Instructor: Prof. Tonio Buonassisi. In this course, students learn about 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, and risk analysis. Some of the course will also be devoted to discussing photovoltaic technology evolution in the context of markets, policies, society, and environment.
(from ocw.mit.edu)
Lecture 09 - Charge Extraction
Schottky & Ohmic contacts. Importance of band alignment. Series and shunt resistance. Solar cell device architectures. Common limitations of efficiency, short-circuit current, fill factor, open-circuit voltage. Measurement of quantum efficiency, solar cell efficiency.