This document discusses solar energy materials and their operation. It begins by defining solar energy materials as those that absorb solar energy and convert it to electrical energy. It then explains that solar radiation is absorbed by the material's electrons, which causes electron-hole pairs to form. These pairs are then separated, creating a voltage. Common solar cell materials mentioned include silicon, CdTe, CIGS, and CZTS. The document also covers a solar cell's absorption coefficient, thickness, operating principle, I-V characteristics, and current expression.

1. Solar Energy Materials And Its
Operations
By
Anish Das
Roll no. -14MS60R16
MATERIALS SCIENCE CENTRE
Indian Institute of Technology
KHARAGPUR, 721302 - INDIA
JANUARY, 2015
107:30:08 PM

2. Overview
 What is solar energy material
 How energy conversion occurs
 Solar radiation spectrum reaching to the
Earth
 Absorption coefficient and thickness
 Operating principle of solar cell
 I-V characteristics of solar cell 207:30:08 PM

3. What is solar energy material?
Solar energy materials are
those where solar energy is made to
absorb and convert to electrical
energy or current
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4. How solar energy is converted
into current
Solar radiation
Material
Electron-hole pairs generation
Electron-hole pairs separation
Voltage created 407:30:08 PM

5. Solar radiation spectrum
reaching to the earth
46% visible and 49% N-IR. So choose a material of such
band gap that will be able to absorb in this region. 507:30:08 PM

6. Absorption coefficient and
thickness of material
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7. Continued
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8. Examples of some basic solar
cell materials
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9. Continued
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10. Continued
Some other materials are
CdTe(with n-ZnS),CIGS(with n-ZnS)
CZTS(with n-ZnS). All can be used
as thin film solar cell material.
1007:30:09 PM

11. Operating principle of solar cell
First step : Choose a proper material
considering
Thickness of material
Optimum band gap
Minority carriers life time
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12. Continued
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13. Continued
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14. Continued
Fourth step : when electrons and
holes are separated then driven those
electrons out through metal
electrodes (which remains in ohmic
contact)
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15. I-V characteristics of solar cell
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16. Continued
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17. Expression of current in solar
cell
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18. The EndThe End
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19. Any question ?Any question ?
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