Entry requirements

Alternative 1: 120 credits with 90 credits in chemistry, including Spectroscopy or Photochemistry. Participation in Advanced Electrochemistry. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Alternative 2: 120 credits with 75 credits in physics or chemistry, and 30 credits materials science. Participation in Photochemistry. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

• give an account for the basic principles behind solar energy conversion in photovoltaic systems. 
• describe and analyse mechanisms for charge separation and recombination in different types of solar cells.
• perform and evaluate basic solar cell measurements and describe advanced characterization methods.
• account for and evaluate material choice for different solar cell technologies. 
• account for and assess the most important scientific and technical factors influencing electrochemical energy storage in batteries.
• account for and propose material choice for lithium ion batteries and characterization methods.
• critically analyse safety aspects, environmental issues and practical use of solar cells and batteries. 

Content

a) Solar cells:

Principles for conversion of solar energy to electricity, Shockley-Queisser limit, tandem solar cells. Different solar cell technologies (inorganic, organic, hybrid). Recombination processes in solar cells. Basic and advanced characterization methods for solar cells and solar cell materials. Integration of solar cells into modules.

b) Batteries:

Fundamental aspects of energy storage in lithium ion batteries. Safety and environmental aspects, choice of materials, and experimental methods for evaluation and comparison of lithium ion batteries. ​Scientific and technical factors influencing electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Anode and cathode materials. Electrolyte aspects.

Instruction

Lectures, problem solving classes, seminars, and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

Individual hand-in exercises during the course (4 credits). The laboratory course and seminars correspond to 1 credit. The final grade is based on both parts.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.