Related papers: Optical Refrigeration for Ultra-Efficient Photovol…
An isolated single-junction solar cell's temperature in outer space depends only on its radiation exchange with its environment. We consider a cell with zero emissivity below its bandgap and unity above it -- an idealization so far…
In this work, it is investigated the behavior of the efficiency at maximum power of a quantum dot molecule, acting as a device for photovoltaic conversion. A theoretical approach using a master equation, considering the effect of the energy…
The fundamental efficiency limit of a single bandgap solar cell is about 31% at one sun with a bandgap of about Eg = 1.35 eV (1), determined by the trade-off of maximising current with a smaller bandgap and voltage with a larger bandgap.…
While silicon solar cells dominate global photovoltaic energy production, their continued improvement is hindered by the single junction limit. One potential solution is to use molecular singlet exciton fission to generate two electrons…
Energy states below the bandgap of a semiconductor, such as trap states or charge transfer states in organic donor acceptor blends, can contribute to light absorption. Due to their low number density or ultrasmall absorption cross-section,…
This paper firstly presents the concept of using dual laser beam to irradiate the photovoltaic cell, so as to investigate the temperature dependency of the efficiency of long distance energy transmission. Next, the model on the multiple…
We derive the photovoltaic conversion efficiency limit for two-terminal tandem solar cells with a perovskite top cell and silicon bottom cell with an embedded spectrum splitter. For large-bandgap top-cells a spectrum splitter strongly…
We evaluate the limiting efficiency of full and partial solar spectrum harvesting via the process of internal photoemission in Au-semiconductor Schottky junctions. Our results based on the ab initio calculations of the electron density of…
Thermophotovoltaics are promising solid-state energy converters for a variety of applications such as grid-scale energy storage, concentrating solar-thermal power, and waste heat recovery. Here, we report the design, fabrication, and…
We report the fabrication and measurement of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells with efficiencies of >40%, which is a record high TPV efficiency and the first experimental demonstration of the efficiency of high-bandgap tandem TPV cells. TPV…
It is currently possible to fabricate crystalline silicon solar cells with the absorber thickness ranging from a few hundreds of micrometers (conventional wafer-based cells) to devices as thin as $1\,\mu\mathrm{m}$. In this work, we use a…
We present a temperature enhanced photothermal cooling scheme in a micro-cantilever based FP cavity. Experiments at various temperatures show a temperature dependence of photothermal cooling efficiency. And approximate one order of…
We study how much the efficiency of a solar cell as a quantum heat engine could be enhanced by quantum coherence. In contrast to the conventional approach that a quantum heat engine is in thermal equilibrium with both hot and cold…
In future solar cell technologies, the thermodynamic Shockley-Queisser limit for solar-to-current conversion in traditional p-n junctions could potentially be overcome with a bulk photovoltaic effect by creating an inversion broken symmetry…
We obtain theoretical expressions for the photocurrent in the Heterojunction solar cells with Intrinsic Thin layer (HIT cells). Our calculations take into account tunneling of electrons and holes through wide-bandgap layers of $\alpha$-Si:H…
With the consideration of photon recycling effect, the efficiency limit of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite solar cells is predicted by a detailed balance model. To obtain convincing predictions, both AM 1.5 spectrum of…
Recently, significant progress in the development of III-V/Si dual-junction solar cells has been achieved. This not only boosts the efficiency of Si-based photovoltaic solar cells, but also offers the possibility of highly efficient green…
Photon impingement is capable of liberating electrons in electronic devices and driving the electron flux from the lower chemical potential to higher chemical potential. Previous studies hinted that the thermodynamic efficiency of a…
The maximum efficiency for photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generator (TEG) systems without concentration is investigated. Both a combined system where the TEG is mounted directly on the back of the PV and a tandem system where the…
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion efficiency has recently surpassed 30%. The key behind such high efficiency is the inclusion of a highly efficient mirror in the rear of the TPV cell that turns back to the thermal emitter the…