De elektronische studiegids voor het academiejaar 2025 - 2026 is onder voorbehoud.





New materials for photovoltaics (4904)

  
Coordinating lecturer :Prof. dr. ir. Koen VANDEWAL 
  
Member of the teaching team :dr. Bernhard SIEGMUND 
 Prof. dr. Jean MANCA 
 dr. ir. Sunil SURESH 
 dr. Yinghuan KUANG 


Language of instruction : English


Credits: 3,0
  
Period: semester 2 (3sp)
  
2nd Chance Exam1: Yes
  
Final grade2: Numerical
 
Sequentiality
 
   Advising sequentiality bound on the level of programme components
 
 
  Following programme components are advised to also be included in your study programme up till now.
    Big data and high throughput based modelling for energy materials (4907) 3.0 stptn
    Advanced functional organic and polymeric materials (4896) 3.0 stptn
 

Prerequisites

The student has a basic knowledge on material physics and chemistry.



Content

Essential goals of the course are the following:

- The student can explain the photovoltaic effect and determine the efficiency of this energy conversion process.

- The student recognises the fundamental structure of a photovoltaic cell.

- The student can identify the fundamental processes that cause efficiency losses.

- The student can explain a solar cell technology based on processing a literature review.

- The student can present the conclusions of a literature study to fellow students.

- The student can independently acquire knowledge of the course content in a case study.

Course content:

Module 1: Basics of photovoltaics

- The photovoltaic effect and solar cell characteristics

- The ideal photovoltaic cell: efficiency limits and optimal bandgaps

-Efficiency limiting material parameters

- High efficiency device concepts

Module 2: Selected photovoltaic technologies

- Developments in silicon and chalcogenide (CIGS, CdTe) thin film solar cells

- New selenide/sulfide materials, CRM-free, transparent solar cells

- Organic solar cells

- Perovskite solar cells

Module 3:Emerging and alternative photovoltaic concepts



Organisational and teaching methods
Organisational methods  
Excursion/Fieldwork  
Lecture  
Response lecture  
Self-study assignment  
Teaching methods  
Demonstration  
Presentation  
Seminar  


Evaluation

Period 2    Credits 3,00

Evaluation method
Oral evaluation during teaching period20 %
Transfer of partial marks within the academic year
Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic yearThe student obtains at least 10/20
Presentation
Oral exam80 %
Transfer of partial marks within the academic year
Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic yearThe student obtains at least 10/20
Open questions
Evaluation conditions (participation and/or pass)
Conditions Participation in the presentation to which evaluation is linked is mandatory.
Consequences In the event of unjustified absence from the presentation to which an evaluation is linked, the student will receive an N = evaluation not fully completed: unjustified absence for one or more components of the evaluation as the final result for the entire course unit.
Additional information For students with exam contract, the presentation during the teaching period will be replaced by a presentation during the exam period.

Second examination period

Evaluation second examination opportunity different from first examination opprt
No
 

Compulsory course material
 

- Study guide/reader (including collection of articles)

- Lecture slides

All slides, readers, papers and other supporting materials will be provided via Blackboard.

 

Recommended reading
 

Titel: The physics of solar cells
Auteur: Jenny Nelson
Editie: 1
Uitgever: Imperial College Press
ISBN: 9781860943492
Extra info: /



Learning outcomes
Master of Materiomics
  •  EC 
  • EC 1. The graduate of the Master of Materiomics programme has an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of functional materials, especially with regard to the relation between composition, structure and functional properties at all length scales and in their operating surroundings.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.1 The student is able to explain the structure of materials and apply this knowledge.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.2 The student is able to explain properties of materials and apply this knowledge.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.3 The student is able to explain techniques for characterization and modeling of materials.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.4 The student is able to explain devices and apply this knowledge.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.5 The student is able to explain synthesis and deposition methods for materials.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC1.6 The student can understand properties from the structure.

  •  EC 
  • EC 4. The graduate of the Master of Materiomics programme is able to autonomously consult, summarise and critically interpret international scientific literature, reference it correctly and use it to explore and identify new domains relevant to the field.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC4.1 The student is able to look up and select appropriate international scientific literature from a variety of disciplines related to materials-related problems or research questions.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC4.2 The student is able to correctly and completely reference to scientific literature.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC4.3 The student is able to critically interpret, evaluate, compare, and/or summarize relevant scientific literature related to materials-related problems or research questions.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC4.4 The student is able to use relevant scientific literature to solve materials-related problems and/or to identify and explore new areas relevant to the field.

  •  EC 
  • EC 6. The graduate of the Master of Materiomics programme is able to communicate in both written and spoken form and to take a well-argued position in a scientific discussion, going from a general to a specialist level, adapted to the target audience.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC6.1 The student is able to report orally and in writing in an adequate manner.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC6.2 The student is able to adapt to the purpose and target audience of the communication, i.e., can empathize with the target audience and make appropriate choices regarding language use and format.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC6.3 The student is able to take and defend a logically constructed position, based on relevant and scientifically supported arguments.

  •  EC 
  • EC 10. The graduate of the Master of Materiomics programme is able to autonomously acquire new knowledge and monitor, evaluate and adjust one’s learning process.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC 10.2 The student is able to formulate goals and priorities, translate an assignment into subtasks, and create a realistic schedule.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC10.1 The student can reflect on their own strengths and areas for improvement and use feedback to improve their own work and competences.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC10.3 The student is able to autonomously acquire, process, and critically interpret new information.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC10.4 The student is able to identify issues from the field of materiomics and suggest solutions.

     
  •  DC 
  • DC10.5 The student is able to relate new material-related interdisciplinary knowledge to his/her existing disciplinary knowledge base. [learning pathway interdisciplinarity - coordination: The student is able to make connections between different perspectives]

     
  •  DC 
  • DC10.6 The student is able to reflect critically on his/her own way of thinking/reasoning and that of fellow students about a specific (material) problem. On the basis of this, the student is able to improve his/her own reasoning and, if necessary, look for complementary views in function of a specific (material) problem. [learning pathway interdisciplinarity - reflection: the student considers different perspectives and is able to reflect critically on them]

 

  EC = learning outcomes      DC = partial outcomes      BC = evaluation criteria  
Offered inTolerance3
2nd year Master of Materiomics specialisatie opleidingsonderdelen J
exchange materiomics keuze J
Exchange Programme materiomics J



1   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.12.2, section 2.
2   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.15.1, section 3.
3   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.16.9, section 2.