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
