Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will introduce students to the photovoltaics and heterogenous photocatalytic technologies available. Solar radiation and its interaction with matter is presented. Photovoltaic technology, including material properties, charge excitation/transport/separation/collection, cell design, system operation, and available technologies. Photocatalytic materials physical and chemical principles will be covered, and photoreactor design will be explored.

Outline Of Syllabus

- Solar radiation characteristics;
- Sun positioning, incident angle, and solar tracking;
- Fundamental physics of light and electricity;
- Atomic structure and properties of metals, insulators and semi-conductors;
- Photoelectric effect, and the history of photovoltaics;
- Light absorption, and charge generation, recombination and transport in semi-conductors;
- p-n junctions and photovoltaic cell;
- Characteristic/performance curve, efficiency and energy losses in photovoltaic cells
- Materials used for PV cells;
- PV modules and system design and, manufacture and performance;
- PV system design and sizing;
- Principles of heterogenous photocatalysis;
- Photocatalytic materials;
- Kinetics and charge effects, interplay between chemical and physical effects
- Photocatalysis applications;
- Photoreactors: principles, design and operation;
- Radiation sources and radiation fields;
- Photocatalytic rate equations and mass transfer rates;
- Photoreactor modelling and design;
- Future development.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students are expected to be able to:

- Appreciate the potential of PV to contribute to renewable energy production and reductions in CO2 (AHEP4 M1);
- Estimate the Sun’s position (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Calculate the solar panel’s angle of incidence (AHEP4 M1-3)
- Estimate solar radiation availability and its variability (AHEP4 M1-3)
- Differentiate between metals, insulators and semi-conductors, as well as n- and p-type semi-conductors (AHEP4 M1-2);
- Estimate light absorption, and charge generation, recombination, and transport in semi-conductors
(AHEP4 M1-3);
- Explain how pn junctions are used in PV cells for charge separation (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Interpret performance curves for PV cells (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Estimate efficiency limits, temperature effects, and losses in PV cells (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Understand the difference between PV technologies, such as crystalline Si, polycrystalline Si, and
thin film cells (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Produce designs for PV cells and modules and perform design and efficiency calculations (AHEP4 M2-M3);
- Relate photocatalytic activity in semiconductor materials with material properties and compositions
(AHEP4 M1,2);
- Assess the effect of kinetic and charge transfer phenomena in the photocatalytic performance, and
predict interplay between such effects (AHEP4 M1-3);
- Specify photocatalytic materials to match applications requirements (AHEP4 M2-M3);
- Produce a photoreactor specification and conceptual design, including selection of appropriate
radiative sources, in line with the chemistries involved (AHEP4 M2-3);
- Devise photoreactor models and carry out photoreactor design calculations (AHEP4 M2-M3);
- Appraise photocatalytic processes sustainability and the technology development horizon (AHEP4 M1-3).

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students are expected to be able to:
-       Estimate solar energy availability for a given geographical location (AHEP4 M2-3);
-       Select the most appropriate PV technology, and perform sizing calculations (AHEP4 M2, M3);
- Design of photocatalytic reactor systems for sustainable chemical conversation (AHEP4 M2-3)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will be used to introduce the theory. The small group teaching sessions are supervised activities in which the students apply the knowledge that they gain during lectures. Structure study will provide students with opportunity to engage with research and state of the art of technology developments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The quizzes will scaffold the student check on understanding of concepts and basic calculations throughout the module.

The online test will assess concepts and elementary calculations during the course to motivate student to wards continuous study (AHEP4 M1-3).

The final examinations will test the students capacity to carry out complex and design calculations and will test the theory, knowledge and practical design skills (AHEP4 M1-3, M17).

General Notes

N/A