Nanophysics of Solar and Renewable Energy

Dieses leicht zugängliche Lehrbuch bietet einen Überblick über die Umwandlung von Solarenergie in elektrische Energie. Der Verfasser stellt grüne Technologien vor wie Solarthermie und Brennstoffzellen und geht auch das Thema Kernfusion an. Der Schwerpunkt liegt aber eindeutig auf der Stromerzeugung durch Photovoltaik und den zugrundeliegenden Prinzipien und Herstellungsmethoden. Immer wieder finden sich sorgsam ausgewählte, aktuelle Beispiele, die wichtige Konzepte und Forschungsansätze illustrieren. Als erfahrener Dozent gibt Edward Wolf eine Einführung in die Konzepte der Quanten- und Atomphysik sowie der Festkörperphysik. Diese Grundlagen sind wichtig für ein quantitatives Verständnis des Status Quo in diesem Fachgebiet. Das Buch ist in sich geschlossen und gut geeignet für Studenten der Physik, Chemie und Ingenieurwissenschaften. Aufgrund der Diskussion der ökonomischen Aspekte wird das Buch auch Leser ansprechen, die eine Karriere im Bereich der Alternativen Energien anstreben.

Ch. 1 A Survey of Long Term Energy Resources1.1 Introduction1.2 Direct Solar Influx1.3 Secondary Solar Driven Sources1.4 Earth-based Long-term Energy Resources1.5 Plan of This BookCh. 2 Physics of Nuclear Fusion: the Source of All Solar-related Energy2.1 Protons in the sun's core2.2 Schrodinger's Equation for the motion of particles2.3 Protons and Neutrons and Their Binding 2.4 Gamow's Tunneling Model applied to fusion in the sun's core2.5 A Survey of Nuclear PropertiesCh. 3 Atoms, Molecules and Semiconductor Devices3.1 Bohr's Model of the Hydrogen Atom3.2 Charge Motion in Periodic Potentials3.3 Energy Bands and Gaps3.4 Atoms, Molecules and the Covalent Bond3.5 Tetrahedral Bonding in Silicon and Related Semiconductors3.6 Donor and Acceptor Impurities, charge concentrations3.7 The pn junction, diode I-V characteristic, photovoltaic cell3.8. Metals and Plasmas Ch. 4 Terrestrial Approaches to Fusion Energy4.1 Deuterium Fusion Demonstration Based on Field Ionization4.2 Deuterium Fusion Demonstration Based on Muonic Hydrogen4.3 Deuterium Fusion Demonstration in Larger-Scale Plasma ReactorsCh. 5 Introduction to Solar Energy Conversion 5.1 Sun as an Energy Source, Spectrum on Earth5.2 Heat Engines and Thermodynamics, Carnot Efficiency5.3 Solar Thermal Electric Power 5.4 Generations of Photovoltaic Solar Cells5.5 Utilizing Solar Power with Photovoltaics: the rooftops of New York 5.6 Utilizing Solar Power with Photovoltaics: the possibility of space-based solar powerCh. 6 Solar Cells Based on Single pn Junctions6.1 Single Junction Cells6.2 Single-crystal vs. Thin-film cells, Si vs. CdTe6.3 CuInGaSe (CIGS) Thin Film Solar Cells6.4 Thin Film CdTe Cells6.5 Dye-sensitized Solar Cells6.6 Polymer Organic Solar CellsCh. 7 Multi-Junction and Energy Concentrating Solar Cells7.1 Tandem Cells, Premium and Low Cost7.2 Organic Molecules as Solar Concentrators7.3 Spectral splitting cells7.4. Summary and Comments on efficiency7.5 A Niche Application of concentrating cellsCh. 8 Third Generation Concepts, Survey of Efficiency8.1 Intermediate Band Cells8.2 Impact Ionization and Carrier Multiplication8.3 Ferromagnetic Materials for Solar Conversion 8.4 Efficiencies: Three Generations of CellsCh. 9 Cells for Hydrogen Generation; Aspects of Hydrogen Storage9.1 Efficient Photo-catalytic Dissociation of Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen9.2 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Status9.3 Storage and Transport of Hydrogen as a Potential Fuel9.4 Surface Adsorption for Storing Hydrogen in High Density9.5 Economics of Hydrogen at PresentCh. 10 Large Scale Fabrication, Learning Curves, Economics including Storage10.1 Fabrication methods vary but have similar learning curves10.2 Learning Strategies for Module Cost 10.3 Thin film cells, Nano-inks for Printing Solar Cells10.4 Large-scale Scenario Based on Thin Film CdTe or CIGS Cells10.5 Comparison of Solar Power vs. Wind Power10.6 The Importance of Storage and Grid Management to Large Scale Utilization10.7 Opportunities for higher efficiency in total energy useCh. 11 Prospects for Solar and Renewable Power 11.1 Rapid Growth in Solar and Wind Power11.2 Renewable Energy beyond Solar and Wind11.3 The Legacy World, Developing Countries, and the Third World11.4 Can Energy supply meet demand in the longer future?ExercisesUseful InformationGlossaryIndex