Materials Concepts For Solar Cells (Second Edition)


Book Description

A modern challenge is for solar cell materials to enable the highest solar energy conversion efficiencies, at costs as low as possible, and at an energy balance as sustainable as necessary in the future. This textbook explains the principles, concepts and materials used in solar cells. It combines basic knowledge about solar cells and the demanded criteria for the materials with a comprehensive introduction into each of the four classes of materials for solar cells, i.e. solar cells based on crystalline silicon, epitaxial layer systems of III-V semiconductors, thin-film absorbers on foreign substrates, and nano-composite absorbers. In this sense, it bridges a gap between basic literature on the physics of solar cells and books specialized on certain types of solar cells.The last five years had several breakthroughs in photovoltaics and in the research on solar cells and solar cell materials. We consider them in this second edition. For example, the high potential of crystalline silicon with charge-selective hetero-junctions and alkaline treatments of thin-film absorbers, based on chalcopyrite, enabled new records. Research activities were boosted by the class of hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites, a promising newcomer in the field.This is essential reading for students interested in solar cells and materials for solar cells. It encourages students to solve tasks at the end of each chapter. It has been well applied for postgraduate students with background in materials science, engineering, chemistry or physics.




Metal – Semiconductor Contacts and Devices


Book Description

VLSI Electronics Microstructure Science, Volume 13: Metal-Semiconductor Contacts and Devices presents the physics, technology, and applications of metal-semiconductor barriers in digital integrated circuits. The emphasis is placed on the interplay among the theory, processing, and characterization techniques in the development of practical metal-semiconductor contacts and devices. This volume contains chapters that are devoted to the discussion of the physics of metal-semiconductor interfaces and its basic phenomena; fabrication procedures; and interface characterization techniques, particularly, ohmic contacts. Contacts that involve polycrystalline silicon; applications of the metal-semiconductor barriers in MOS, bipolar, and MESFET digital integrated circuits; and methods for measuring the barrier height are covered as well. Process engineers, device physicists, circuit designers, and students of this discipline will find the book very useful.




Metal-semiconductor Contacts


Book Description

This second edition brings a greatly expanded treatment of the physics of Schottky-barrier formation to its comprehensive discussion of modern semiconductor technology. Topics covered include the current/voltage relationship, the capacitance of rectifying contacts, and practical methods of fabricating contacts. Written for semiconductor technologists and physicists engaged in research on semiconductor interfaces, this text emphasizes practical implications wherever they are relevant to device technology.




Contacts to Semiconductors


Book Description

. It is directed to microelectronics and optoelectronics industry researchers, designers, prototype builders, and process engineers. Researchers in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering and the materials science will also find this book an essential reference.







Semiconductor Physical Electronics


Book Description

The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a self-contained treatment of fundamen tal solid state and semiconductor device physics. The material presented in the text is based upon the lecture notes of a one-year graduate course sequence taught by this author for many years in the ·Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Florida. It is intended as an introductory textbook for graduate students in electrical engineering. However, many students from other disciplines and backgrounds such as chemical engineering, materials science, and physics have also taken this course sequence, and will be interested in the material presented herein. This book may also serve as a general reference for device engineers in the semiconductor industry. The present volume covers a wide variety of topics on basic solid state physics and physical principles of various semiconductor devices. The main subjects covered include crystal structures, lattice dynamics, semiconductor statistics, energy band theory, excess carrier phenomena and recombination mechanisms, carrier transport and scattering mechanisms, optical properties, photoelectric effects, metal-semiconductor devices, the p--n junction diode, bipolar junction transistor, MOS devices, photonic devices, quantum effect devices, and high speed III-V semiconductor devices. The text presents a unified and balanced treatment of the physics of semiconductor materials and devices. It is intended to provide physicists and mat erials scientists with more device backgrounds, and device engineers with a broader knowledge of fundamental solid state physics.







Heterojunctions and Metal Semiconductor Junctions


Book Description

Heterojunctions and Metal-Semiconductor Junctions discusses semiconductor-semiconductor heterojunctions and metal-semiconductor heterojunctions, which are of significant practical importance today and also of considerable scientific interest, with worthwhile problems still to be explored and understood. Many classes of heterojunctions are believed to have new and valuable applications. Although some aspects of heterojunction behavior remain areas for continued scientific and technological study, the main outlines of the subject are clear. This book comprises nine chapters, and begins with an introduction to semiconductor heterojunctions. Succeeding chapters then discuss semiconductor p-n heterojunction models and diode behavior; heterojunction transistors; isotype (n-n, p-p) heterojunctions; optical properties of heterojunctions and heterojunction lasers; metal-semiconductor barriers; metal-semiconductor junction behavior; high yield photoemissive cathodes; and fabrication of heterojunctions. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the fields of applied physics.




Physics of Semiconductor Devices


Book Description

The new edition of the most detailed and comprehensive single-volume reference on major semiconductor devices The Fourth Edition of Physics of Semiconductor Devices remains the standard reference work on the fundamental physics and operational characteristics of all major bipolar, unipolar, special microwave, and optoelectronic devices. This fully updated and expanded edition includes approximately 1,000 references to original research papers and review articles, more than 650 high-quality technical illustrations, and over two dozen tables of material parameters. Divided into five parts, the text first provides a summary of semiconductor properties, covering energy band, carrier concentration, and transport properties. The second part surveys the basic building blocks of semiconductor devices, including p-n junctions, metal-semiconductor contacts, and metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors. Part III examines bipolar transistors, MOSFETs (MOS field-effect transistors), and other field-effect transistors such as JFETs (junction field-effect-transistors) and MESFETs (metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors). Part IV focuses on negative-resistance and power devices. The book concludes with coverage of photonic devices and sensors, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and various photodetectors and semiconductor sensors. This classic volume, the standard textbook and reference in the field of semiconductor devices: Provides the practical foundation necessary for understanding the devices currently in use and evaluating the performance and limitations of future devices Offers completely updated and revised information that reflects advances in device concepts, performance, and application Features discussions of topics of contemporary interest, such as applications of photonic devices that convert optical energy to electric energy Includes numerous problem sets, real-world examples, tables, figures, and illustrations; several useful appendices; and a detailed solutions manual for Instructor's only Explores new work on leading-edge technologies such as MODFETs, resonant-tunneling diodes, quantum-cascade lasers, single-electron transistors, real-space-transfer devices, and MOS-controlled thyristors Physics of Semiconductor Devices, Fourth Edition is an indispensable resource for design engineers, research scientists, industrial and electronics engineering managers, and graduate students in the field.