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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells by École Polytechnique

4.3
stars
113 ratings

About the Course

This course consists of a general presentation of solar cells based on silicon thin films. It is the third MOOC of the photovoltaic series of Ecole polytechnique on Coursera. The general aspects of the photovoltaic field are treated in "Photovoltaic Solar Energy". And the detailed description of the crystalline silicon solar cells can be found in "Physics of Silicon Solar Cells". After a brief presentation of solar cells operation, thin film semiconductors are described here. The general properties of disordered and crystalline semiconductors are found very different, in particular in terms of band structure and doping mechanisms. Silicon thin films, generally less than 1 µm thick, are deposited from silane plasma leading to hydrogen incorporation. The growth mechanisms are discussed, in particular the capability to prepare partially crystallized thin films which appear as a mixture of nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous tissue. The consequences of the semiconductor properties on solar cells behavior are reviewed. The optical properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon are complementary. Thus the plasma process is particularly well adapted to the preparation of multijunctions, with conversion efficiencies around 13-15 %. Furthermore plasma processes allow to prepare solar cells in large area on glass or flexible substrates. Finally, it is shown that crystalline and amorphous silicon materials can be combine into heterojunctions solar cells with high efficiency conversion (about 25 %). **This course is part of a series of 3** Photovoltaic solar energy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/photovoltaic-solar-energy/) Physics of silicon solar cells (https://www.coursera.org/learn/physics-silicon-solar-cells/) Silicon thin film solar cells...

Top reviews

ZA

Oct 8, 2020

Both of the teachers are very conceptual,and ones can easily learn this course by giving some extra time.Thanks to the teaching staff and the team of coursera.

MF

Aug 19, 2020

Pr.Bernard was excellent,very clear and was to the point .it was very useful and interesting .

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1 - 24 of 24 Reviews for Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells

By Liu Y

Jul 2, 2020

Too strong of an accent, accompanied with the really poor transcript. Took too long to do the last assignment!

By Pritam M

Jun 30, 2020

Although few questions were not related to the videos , but discussion forum helped me a lot. Overall Very helpful course , especially those animations and diagrams cleared my doubts easily. Thanks to Prof. Drevillion and Prof. Johnson.

By Dr.M.Senthamizh S

Jun 1, 2020

Learnt more knowledge about Silicon Thin film solar cells.

More explanation and examples may be included in the course materials for doing numerical problems given in the Quizzes. Thank you.

By Kampara M

Jan 12, 2021

Instructor language was somewhat difficult to understand

By Yeo Y Q

Jun 8, 2020

Very good course, i have learnt alot about thin solar cells such as c-Si, amorphous Si, nano-Si, combining them with other types of solar cell such as germanium-based solar cells to make multi-junction solar cells to improve their efficiencies. Furthermore, i have learnt about transparent conductive layer as well as the advantages and drawbacks of the different types of solar cell materials.

By Sandeep K M

Jun 15, 2020

The insights provided by this course on photovoltaics is really great. The numericals dealt with in this course are very timely and appropriate. Looking forward to more courses from ECOLE Polytechnique.

By zafar a

Oct 9, 2020

Both of the teachers are very conceptual,and ones can easily learn this course by giving some extra time.Thanks to the teaching staff and the team of coursera.

By Merisha F

Aug 20, 2020

Pr.Bernard was excellent,very clear and was to the point .it was very useful and interesting .

By JOJI J

May 7, 2020

Teachers are experts in the area and the course is understandable and useful.

By Luigi F

Mar 17, 2022

Good. Some of the question in the quiz is not really clear but ok

By Hüseyin

Mar 5, 2022

Good Course. Thank you for your sharing knowledge.

By Venkateswarlu K

Aug 15, 2020

Excellent

By Luca L G

Oct 17, 2021

ok

By Aniket A

Sep 26, 2020

Very good course to get insight into the solar cells working however, more quiz questions can be given for practice, I have completed other courses also from Ecole Polytechnique, they have the best explanation and course material, looking forward for more such courses. Thanks, Coursera for bringing these courses on the platform.

By Ahnaf S

Apr 19, 2020

I think it would be better if materials such as how chemical elements/compounds are analyzed and selected for modeling more advanced PV cells. and advises on how can us student get into PV research.

Thank you.

By 香皂

Jul 11, 2020

the content is good for me to get more knowledge of solar cell, however, the assignment tests are quite tough sometimes

By SAIKIRAN V

Jun 30, 2020

It is a nice course for beginners in si solarcells

By NAZMUL H

Aug 15, 2020

should be more interactive.

By KODI A

May 25, 2020

Such a good course

By Rashid S

Nov 30, 2023

worth doing

By GOLLA S C

May 27, 2020

fgtr6ti7

By Alexandros G S

Dec 10, 2021

A good course, indeed, but only in the case someone obtains already a good background regarding the solar technology. In many cases someone may need additional information in order to understand many things better and answer in some quiz tasks, Moreover, a lecturer with a better english accent would be preferable.

By Veebhav B

Aug 17, 2020

Hard to understand accent most of the time. But good content and discussion forum

By Pouria P

Jun 29, 2020

not bad!