Thin-film solar cells are cheap and easy to manufacture but require improvements as their efficiencies are low compared to that of the commercially dominant crystalline-silicon solar cells. An optoelectronic model is formulated and implemented along with the differential evolution algorithm to assess the efficacy of grading the bandgap of the CIGS, CZTSSe, and AlGaAs photon-absorbing layer for optimizing the power-conversion efficiency of thin-film CIGS, CZTSSe, and AlGaAs solar cells, respectively, in the two-terminal single-junction format. Each thin-film solar cell is modeled as a photonic device as well as an electronic device. Solar cells with two (or more) photon-absorbing layers can also be handled using the optolelectronic model, whose results will stimulate experimental techniques for bandgap grading to enable ubiquitous small-scale harnessing of solar energy.

Thin Film Nanophotonics: Conclusions from the Third International Workshop on Thin Films for Electronics, Electro-Optics, Energy and Sensors (TFE3S) provides up-to-date coverage of the properties and photonic applications of nanostructured thin films, including discussions on optical waveguides, photonic lattices for wideband reflectors, polarizers, bandpass filters, meta surfaces, plasmonic resonance sensors, smart windows, optical switches, photovoltaics, and many more. This is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers and physicists working in the areas of nanomaterials and photonics. New thin film applications such as thin-film topological insulators and 2D materials are gaining attention and growing exponentially, hence this book is an ideal reference on how engineered thin films for various nano-photonics applications present exponential growth in a wide array of areas. - Focuses on the interaction of photons with nanostructured thin films, nanocrystals, nanowires, semiconductor nanodots and photonic crystals - Offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in thin-film nanophotonics - Discusses how the properties of thin films make them particularly useful for photonic applications

The book, which is part of a two-volume handbook set, presents a collection of recent advances in the field of industrial engineering, design, and related technologies. It includes state-of-the-art research conducted in the fields of Industry 4.0/5.0, smart systems/industries, robotics and automation, automobile engineering, thermal and fluid engineering, and its implementation. Manufacturing Technologies and Production Systems: Principles and Practices offers a comprehensive description of the developments in industrial engineering primarily focusing on industrial design, automotive engineering, construction and structural engineering, thermo-fluid mechanics, and interdisciplinary domains. The book captures emerging areas of materials science and advanced manufacturing engineering and presents the most recent trends in research for emerging researchers, field engineers, and academic professionals.

Thin-film solar cells are cheap and easy to manufacture but require improvements as their efficiencies are low compared to that of the commercially dominant crystalline-silicon solar cells. An optoelectronic model is formulated and implemented along with the differential evolution algorithm to assess the efficacy of grading the bandgap of the CIGS, CZTSSe, and AlGaAs photon-absorbing layer for optimizing the power-conversion efficiency of thin-film CIGS, CZTSSe, and AlGaAs solar cells, respectively, in the two-terminal single-junction format. Each thin-film solar cell is modeled as a photonic device as well as an electronic device. Solar cells with two (or more) photon-absorbing layers can also be handled using the optolelectronic model, whose results will stimulate experimental techniques for bandgap grading to enable ubiquitous small-scale harnessing of solar energy.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of the photovoltaic cell. It is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers new to the field. It covers: basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices; physical models of solar cell operation; characteristics and design of common types of solar cell; and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. The text explains the terms and concepts of solar cell device physics and shows the reader how to formulate and solve relevant physical problems. Exercises and worked solutions are included.

Gathering some 30 entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, this book presents fundamental principles and technologies for sustainably harnessing solar energy. Covers photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar radiation and more.