Organic Solar Cells: Online course by Technical University of Denmark

Published: Friday, August 8, 2014, 14:50 [IST]

Organic Solar Cells - Theory and Practice, this course helps students learn about a new generation of solar cells, organic solar cells, that promise an answer to the energy demands of the future.

About the Course:
The goal of the course is to give students awareness of the largest alternative form of energy and how organic / polymer solar cells can harvest this energy. The course provides an insight into the theory behind organic solar cells and describes the three main research areas within the field i.e. materials, stability and processing.

Course Syllabus:

Week 1: Introduction to solar energy and the three generations of solar cells combined with an introduction to life cycle analysis for solar cells.
Week 2: Working principles of organic photovoltaics, how to measure and characterize organic solar cells and finally the application of organic solar cells.
Week 3: Materials for organic solar cells with focus on the active layer including common polymer materials, fullerenes, and low bandgap polymers.
Week 4: Stability and lifetime of organic and polymer solar cells.
Week 5: Production of organic solar cells with focus on roll to roll processes, coating, printing, and up-scaling.
Week 6: The future of organic solar cells and final exam.

Prerequisites:
A background in chemistry or physics is recommended. But due to the interdisciplinary aspects of the subject anyone with a keen interest in solar energy is welcome.

Course Format:
The class will consist of lecture videos, which are between 8 and 12 minutes in length. These contain 1-2 integrated quiz questions per video. There will also be homework that is not part of the video lectures, and a final exam.

For further information, click here.