course-details-portlet

TMT4322

Solar Cells and Photovoltaic Nanostructures

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

Electronic structure of semiconductors and nanostructured materials. Carrier statistics and transport. Optical processes. Recombination. Charge separation in Schottky barriers and pn-junctions. Characteristics in dark and under illumination. Loss mechanisms and efficiency in pn-junction cells. Thin-film solar cell cells: principles and processes. Tandem solar cells and intermediate-band solar cells. Focus will be given to silicon-based solar cells and solar cell processes, examples and calculations related to these materials.

Learning outcome

The course emphasizes charge separation upon photon absorption as the central process in photovoltaic devices, and will give the student an overview of mechanisms for charge separation in conventional and nanostructured materials. The student shall also be able to perform quantitative calculations associated with these processes. Expected time: Lectures:60 hours; Laboratory and report writing:10 hours; Exercises:20 hours. Self study:110 hours.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, mandatory problem sets and laboratory exercises. If the teaching is given in English the Examination papers can be given in English only. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments.

Compulsory assignments

  • Exercises, laboratory exercises

Further on evaluation

If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral. Approved exercises and lab reports do not need to be repeated.

Course materials

Course materials consist mainly of lectures notes and slides.

A book chapter og journal papers can be given to the students if necessary.

Book: J. Nelson "The phycis of solar cell"

Subject areas

  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Date 2025-12-19 Time 09:00 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL520
14 candidates
Room SL510
35 candidates

Re-sit examination - Summer 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.