Photovoltaics: from Materials to System Engineering

摘要

The current status of solar cell technology is reviewed, from early space solar cellsto high-efficiency devices, thin film solar cells and dye sensitised cells. The close relationship between research on radiation damage in space solar cells and work on defects in semiconductor is then discussed in more detail, and it is shown how progress in one field can stimulate advances in the other. This is illustrated on the example of the divacancy in silicon, which was recently identified as an effective recombination centre and also a key component of the radiation damage. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of photovoltaic systems, including both grid-connected and stand alone systems.