Alexis de Vos received his Ph.D. degree in applied sciences from the University of Ghent, Belgium, in 1979. He currently holds posts as part-time systems engineer at the Flemish Interuniversity Microelectronics Research Centre, and as a part-time professor at the Department of Electronics and Information Systems of the University of Ghent. His research focuses on material science (polymers, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals), microelectronics (thin films and chips), and energy sciences (thermodynamics, solar energy, endoreversible engines, reversible computing). He is the author and co-editor of several books and has authored numerous papers and articles. Since 1993, he has been acting as the coordinator of the pan-European Carnot Network on Thermodynamics and Thermoeconomics of Energy Conversion and Transport.

• 1) Radiation2) The Solar System3) Thermodynamical Engines4) Wind Energy Creation5) Photothermal Conversion6) Photovoltaic Conversion7) Hybrid Conversion8) Multicolour Conversion9) Chemical Reactions10) PhotosynthesisAppendices

Alexis de Vos received his Ph.D. degree in applied sciences from the University of Ghent, Belgium, in 1979. He currently holds posts as part-time systems engineer at the Flemish Interuniversity Microelectronics Research Centre, and as a part-time professor at the Department of Electronics and Information Systems of the University of Ghent. His research focuses on material science (polymers, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals), microelectronics (thin films and chips), and energy sciences (thermodynamics, solar energy, endoreversible engines, reversible computing). He is the author and co-editor of several books and has authored numerous papers and articles. Since 1993, he has been acting as the coordinator of the pan-European Carnot Network on Thermodynamics and Thermoeconomics of Energy Conversion and Transport.

• 1) Radiation2) The Solar System3) Thermodynamical Engines4) Wind Energy Creation5) Photothermal Conversion6) Photovoltaic Conversion7) Hybrid Conversion8) Multicolour Conversion9) Chemical Reactions10) PhotosynthesisAppendices