Lecture

Laser Power Converter: Photovoltaic Cell Design

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

In course

MICRO-312: Physics of semiconductors devices

Les étudiants savent expliquer la physique des composants semiconducteurs, tels que diodes, transistors et composants MOS. Ils les utilisent dans des circuits électroniques fondamentaux tels qu'inverseurs et ampli. ...

Description

This lecture discusses the design of photovoltaic cells for a Laser Power Converter (LPC) system. The instructor explains how a laser emits monochromatic light to power solar cells, which convert this light into electrical energy. The lecture emphasizes the importance of selecting the appropriate semiconductor materials based on the laser's wavelength to optimize efficiency. The instructor compares the efficiency of solar cells under solar illumination versus monochromatic light, highlighting that the efficiency can reach up to 80% when designed correctly for monochromatic light. The discussion includes guidelines for designing single-junction and multi-junction cells, noting that multi-junction cells can generate higher voltages but may reduce current. The lecture concludes with practical examples of multi-junction designs and their potential to achieve significant voltage outputs while maintaining efficiency. Overall, the lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and considerations involved in designing photovoltaic cells for laser applications.

Instructor

Pierre-André Besse

Teaching & PhD Past EPFL PhD Students Klaus Ehrmann Courses La science quantique : une vision singulière MICRO-444 Students understand the characteristics of quantum science. They master the formalism and use it in basic quantum systems: quantum wells, wires, dots or qubits. Physics of semiconductors devices MICRO-312 The students are able to explain the physics of semiconductor devices like diodes, transistors, and MOS devices. They use such devices in fundamental electroni

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Energy engineering

Solar power: Topics in solar power

Related concepts (32)

Solar cell

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical phenomenon. It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as current, voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Individual solar cell devices are often the electrical building blocks of photovoltaic modules, known colloquially as solar panels.

Thin-film solar cell

Thin-film solar cells are made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin films or TFs) of photovoltaic material onto a substrate, such as glass, plastic or metal. Thin-film solar cells are typically a few nanometers (nm) to a few microns (μm) thick–much thinner than the wafers used in conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) based solar cells, which can be up to 200 μm thick. Thin-film solar cells are commercially used in several technologies, including cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and amorphous thin-film silicon (a-Si, TF-Si).

Photovoltaic system

A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system. It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system's overall performance and include an integrated battery.

Timeline of solar cells

In the 19th century, it was observed that the sunlight striking certain materials generates detectable electric current – the photoelectric effect. This discovery laid the foundation for solar cells. Solar cells have gone on to be used in many applications. They have historically been used in situations where electrical power from the grid was unavailable. As the invention was brought out it made solar cells as a prominent utilization for power generation for satellites.

Quantum dot solar cell

A quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) is a solar cell design that uses quantum dots as the captivating photovoltaic material. It attempts to replace bulk materials such as silicon, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) or cadmium telluride (CdTe). Quantum dots have bandgaps that are adjustable across a wide range of energy levels by changing their size. In bulk materials, the bandgap is fixed by the choice of material(s).

Related lectures (64)

High Efficiency Solar Cells

Explores high efficiency solar cells, including C-Si and III-V junctions, epitaxial growth, and rear contact recombination.

Solar Cells: Efficiency and Losses

Covers the operation, efficiency, and losses associated with solar cells, including the concept of hybrid photovoltaic thermal panels.

General Introduction to Photovoltaic Devices

Covers the basics of solar energy, PV technology, solar resource maps, solar cell design, and performance limits.

Solar Energy: Basics in Thermal Transport and Solar Systems

Covers the basics of energy states in matter, thermal transport, and solar systems, emphasizing the importance of electrochemistry in solar energy applications.

Large-Scale Photovoltaics: Challenges and Insights