A profound understanding of the physical laws underlying energy converters is a prerequisite
for a sustainable use of our energy resources. The aim of this textbook is to provide a unified
view on the different energy conversion processes ranging from power plants to solar cells. It
offers an interdisciplinary introduction to energy sciences for senior undergraduate and
graduate students from natural sciences and engineering. The central theme is the treatment of
energy converters as open thermodynamical systems and the performance of efficiency analyses
based on the concept of exergy. Presents the physics behind the most important energy
converters in a unified framework. Evaluates the performance of ideal and realistic energy
converters in terms of energy and exergy efficiencies Provides basic concepts needed for a
discussion of energy converters such as chemical and applied thermodynamics electrochemistry
and solid state physics. About the Authors Katharina Krischer is a professor of physics at the
Technische Universität München Germany. She has taught lectures on energy sciences for
undergraduate and graduate students for more than 10 years. Her research topics include the
photo-electrochemical production of solar fuels. Konrad Schönleber is a researcher in the group
of Prof. Krischer which he joined after graduating in physics from the Technische Universität
München. His research interest focuses on light-driven semiconductor electrochemistry and its
application for renewable energies.
