Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour; outside study, seven hours. Comprehensive introduction to materials and physics of photovoltaic cell, covering basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices, physical models of cell operation, characteristics and design of common types of solar cells, and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. Recent progress in solar cells, such as organic solar cell, thin-film solar cells, and multiple junction solar cells provided to increase student knowledge. Tour of research laboratory included. Letter grading.

Units: 4.0