Nano-Structured Photovoltaics

Presenting a comprehensive overview of a rapidly burgeoning field blending solar cell technology with nanotechnology, the book covers topics such as solar cell basics, nanotechnology fundamentals, nanocrystalline silicon-based solar cells, nanotextured-surface solar cells, plasmon-enhanced solar cells, optically-improved nanoengineered solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, 2D perovskite and 2D/3D multidimensional perovskite solar cells, carbonaceous nanomaterial-based solar cells, quantum well solar cells, nanowire solar cells and quantum dot solar cells. The book provides an in-depth and lucid presentation of the subject matter in an elegant, easy-to-understand writing style, starting from basic knowledge through principles of operation and fabrication of devices to advanced research levels encompassing the recent breakthroughs and cutting-edge innovations. It will be useful for graduate and PhD students, scientists, and engineers. Key features: * Builds an integrated perspective of photovoltaics by highlighting the essential role of nanotechnology in each type of solar cell. * Performs simplified mathematical analysis of operational mechanisms of nanostructured solar cells supplemented with solved examples. * Enhances learning with clear explanations of technological advances and illustrative diagrams without sacrificing scientific rigor.

Vinod Kumar Khanna is an independent researcher at Chandigarh, India. He received the Ph.D. degree in physics from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India in 1988. He is a Retired Chief Scientist and Head, MEMS & Microsensors Group, from the CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani, India, and a Professor with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India. He is a former Emeritus Scientist, CSIR and Emeritus Professor, AcSIR. He has worked at CSIR-CEERI for more than 37 years on the design, fabrication and characterization of power semiconductor devices and micro/nanoelectronic sensors. He has authored 18 books and six chapters in edited books. He has authored/coauthored 194 research papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings. He also has five patents to his name.

1. Solar Cell Basics. 2. Nanotechnology Fundamentals. 3. Nanocystalline Silicon-Based Solar Cells. 4. Nanotextured Surface Solar Cells. 5. Plasmonic-Enhanced Solar Cells. 6. Optically Improved Nanoengineered Solar Cells. 7. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. 8. 2D Perovskite and 2D/3D Multidimensional Perovskite Solar Cells. 9. Carbonaceous Nanomaterials-Based Solar Cells. 10. Quantum Well Solar Cells: Particle-in-a-Box Model and Bandgap Engineering. 11. Quantum-Well Solar Cells: Material Systems and Fabrications. 12. Nanowire Solar Cells: Configurations. 13. Nanowire Solar Cells: Fabrication. 14. Quantum Dot Solar Cells: Bandgap and Multicarrier Effects. Chapter 15. Quantum Dot Solar Cells: Types of Cells and Their Fabrication. Index.