Physics of Solar Energy and Energy Storage

List of Figures xiii

List of Tables xix

Preface to the Second Edition xxi

Preface to the First Edition xxiii

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

1.1 Shaping a More Livable World 1

1.2 Solar Energy 9

1.3 Solar Photovoltaics 12

1.4 A Rechargeable Battery Primer 16

1.5 Other Renewable Energy Resources 21

Chapter 2: Nature of Solar Radiation 37

2.1 Light as Electromagnetic Waves 37

2.2 Interface Phenomena 43

2.3 Blackbody Radiation 51

2.4 Photoelectric Effect and Concept of Photons 58

2.5 Einstein's Derivation of Blackbody Formula 63

Chapter 3: Origin of Solar Energy 67

3.1 Basic Parameters of the Sun 68

3.2 Kelvin-Helmholtz Time Scale 70

3.3 Energy Source of the Sun 72

Chapter 4: Tracking Sunlight 77

4.1 Rotation of Earth: Latitude and Longitude 77

4.2 Celestial Sphere 78

4.3 Treatment in Solar Time 84

4.4 Treatment in Standard Time 94

Chapter 5: Interaction of Sunlight with Earth 105

5.1 Interaction of Radiation with Matter 105

5.2 Interaction of Sunlight with Atmosphere 108

5.3 Penetration of Solar Energy into Earth 111

Chapter 6: Thermodynamics of Solar Energy 117

6.1 Definitions 117

6.2 First Law of Thermodynamics 118

6.3 Second Law of Thermodynamics 121

6.4 Thermodynamic Functions 125

6.5 Ideal Gas 127

6.6 Ground Source Heat Pump and Air Conditioning 131

Chapter 7: A Quantum Mechanics Primer 139

7.1 The Static Schrödinger Equation 140

7.2 Many-Electron Systems 163

7.3 The Chemical Bond 169

7.4 The Solid State 174

7.5 The Dynamic Schrödinger Equation 181

Chapter 8: pn-Junctions 189

8.1 Semiconductors 189

8.2 Formation of a pn-Junction 194

8.3 Analysis of pn-Junctions 198

8.4 Light-Emitting Diodes for Illumination 202

Chapter 9: Semiconductor Solar Cells 211

9.1 Basic Concepts 211

9.2 The Shockley-Queisser Limit 217

9.3 Nonradiative Recombination Processes 225

9.4 Antireflection Coatings 228

9.5 Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells 234

9.6 Thin-Film Solar Cells 238

9.7 Tandem Solar Cells 241

Chapter 10: Solar Photochemistry 245

10.1 Physics of Photosynthesis 245

10.2 Artificial Photosynthesis 253

10.3 Genetically Engineered Algae 253

10.4 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 253

10.5 Bilayer Organic Solar Cells 256

Chapter 11: Solar Thermal Energy 259

11.1 Early Solar Thermal Applications 259

11.2 Solar Heat Collectors 262

11.3 Solar Water Heaters 271

11.4 Solar Thermal Power Systems 272

Chapter 12: Physical Energy Storage 278

12.1 Pumped Hydro Storage 278

12.2 Sensible Heat Energy Storage 279

12.3 Phase Transition Thermal Storage 283

Chapter 13: Rechargeable Batteries 288

13.1 An Electrochemistry Primer 288

13.2 Lithium-Ion Batteries 292

13.3 Sodium-Ion Batteries 306

13.4 Traditional Rechargeable Batteries 310

Chapter 14: Building with Sunshine 313

14.1 Early Solar Architecture 314

14.2 Building Materials 315

14.3 Example of Holistic Design 320

Appendix A: Energy Unit Conversion 325

Appendix B: Spherical Trigonometry 327

B.1 Spherical Triangle 327

B.2 Cosine Formula 328

B.3 Sine Formula 329

B.4 Formula C 331

Appendix C: Vector Analysis and Determinants 333

C.1 Vector Analysis 333

C.2 Determinants 334

Appendix D: Real Spherical Harmonics 336

D.1 The Spherical Coordinate System 336

D.2 Spherical Harmonics 337

Appendix E: Complex Numbers 341

E.1 Definition of Complex Numbers 341

E.2 The Euler Formula 342

Appendix F: Statistics of Particles 343

F.1 Maxwell-Boltzmann Statistics 344

F.2 Fermi-Dirac Statistics 345

F.3 Bose-Einstein Statistics 346

Appendix G: Measurement in Quantum Mechanics 347

G.1 The Measurement Postulate 347

G.2 Experiments in Position Detection 349

G.3 Tomographic Imaging of Wavefunctions 351

G.4 Einstein's Opinion on Quantum Mechanics 353

G.5 A Modern View of Schrödinger's Cat 353

G.6 A Natural Presentation of Quantum Mechanics 354

Bibliography 357

Index 365