<p>Which works with these, electrical engineering or mechanical.</p>
<p>probably both. i think the mech would design them, then the EE would design the grid....but thats just my guess</p>
<p>Probably both, but I think Materials science and engineering would be much more relevant. The main problem today with photovoltaics is that the silicon is expensive and not too efficient, so you'll either have make better silicon or find another material. You have to connect all the cells electrically and make sure it doesn't get mechanically damaged, but finding the better material is a much bigger problem.</p>
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probably both. i think the mech would design them, then the EE would design the grid....but thats just my guess
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<p>Solar cells have a lot to do with material electronic properties. A few ECE faculty here do solar cell work (silicon, polymer, etc). My best guess is materials engineers would have the most relevant coursework, but EE's who study a lot of semiconductor physics also would know a lot of the basics.</p>
<p>well matsci often doesnt have its own undergrad major, its usually combined with mechanical, or in the last year of mechE you do specialized classes for matsci then go onto grad school</p>
<p>electrical and material</p>
<p>I'm an undergraduate working on nanowire solar cells. My major is Engineering Physics, which is essentially Electrical Engineering. EEs on the semiconductor/materials side are well prepared to work with solar cells, as are MatSci students and students in other majors.</p>
<p>Thanks Guys</p>