Related papers: Optical Refrigeration for Ultra-Efficient Photovol…
The photovoltaic reciprocity theory relates the electroluminescence spectrum of a solar cell under applied bias to the external photovoltaic quantum efficiency of the device as measured at short circuit conditions. Its derivation is based…
The power conversion efficiency of an ultrathin CIGS solar cell was maximized using a coupled optoelectronic model to determine the optimal bandgap grading of the nonhomogeneous CIGS layer in the thickness direction. The bandgap of the CIGS…
Electric power may, in principle, be generated in a highly efficient manner from heat created by focused solar irradiation, chemical combustion, or nuclear decay by means of thermionic energy conversion. As the conversion efficiency of the…
Photoluminescence (PL) is a fundamental light-matter interaction in which absorbed photons are re-emitted, playing a key role in science and engineering. It is commonly modeled by introducing a non-zero chemical potential into Planck's law…
Many advanced solar cell concepts propose surpassing the Shockley Queisser (SQ) limit by introducing multiple quasi-Fermi level separations that are arranged in series and/or in parallel. Exceeding the SQ limit with any parallel arrangement…
We present experimental results demonstrating that, relative to continuous illumination, an increase of a factor of 3-10 in the photon efficiency of algal photo-synthesis is attainable via the judicious application of pulsed light for light…
The demand for single photon sources at $\lambda~=~1.54~\mu$m, which follows from the consistent development of quantum networks based on commercial optical fibers, makes Er:O$_x$ centers in Si still a viable resource thanks to the optical…
Spectral converters are known to increase photovoltaic energy conversion by minimizing losses due to fundamental non-absorption and thermalization processes, and have been suggested to surpass the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit in…
Photodetectors are key optoelectronic building blocks performing the essential optical-to-electrical signal conversion, and unlike solar cells, operate at a specific wavelength and at high signal or sensory speeds. Towards achieving high…
Parabolic trough mirror plants are a popular design for the conversion of solar energy to electricity via thermal processes. The receiver unit (RU) for absorbing the concentrated solar radiation is limited to maximum temperature (580 degree…
Silicon's bandgap inherently restricts its photodetection to wavelengths below 1100 nm, necessitating the integration of costly III-V semiconductors for short-wave infrared applications. Hyperdoping silicon beyond the solid solubility limit…
The ability to absorb light is indispensable for high efficient solar power generation. This places conflicting requirements on the structure of a solar cell: On one hand, it needs to have thick active layers to absorb more of the available…
A modified detailed balance model is built to understand and quantify efficiency loss of perovskite solar cells. The modified model captures the light-absorption dependent short-circuit current, contact and transport-layer modified carrier…
In this paper we present and experimentally validate a low-cost design of a spectral splitting concentrator for the efficient conversion of solar energy. The optical device consists of a dispersive prismatic lens made of polycarbonate…
Manipulating the flow of energy in nanoscale and molecular photonic devices is of both fundamental interest and central importance for applications in light harvesting optoelectronics. Under erratic solar irradiance conditions, unregulated…
Ever science the invention of solar cells, thermodynamics has been used to assess their performance limits, guiding advances in materials science and photovoltaic technology to reduce the gap between the practical efficiencies and the…
We investigate the role of long-lasting quantum coherence in the efficiency of energy transport at room temperature in Fenna-Matthews-Olson photosynthetic complexes. The excitation energy transfer due to the coupling of the light harvesting…
Singlet fission, an exciton multiplication process in organic semiconductors which converts one singlet exciton into two triplet excitons is a promising way to reduce thermalization losses in conventional solar cells. One way to harvest…
Direct current (DC) converters play an essential role in electronic circuits. Conventional high-efficiency DC voltage converters, especially step-up type, rely on switch-mode operation, where energy is periodically stored within and…
We present a multijunction detailed balance model that includes the effects of luminescent coupling, light trapping and nonradiative recombination, suitable for treatment of multijunction solar cells and photonic power converters --…