Related papers: Ideal Solar Cell Efficiencies
Solar photons possessing energy less than the band-gap of a single-junction solar cell can be utilized via the up-conversion (UC) of two or more photons, resulting in the emission of a single above-bandgap photon. Due to the non-linear…
This paper shows a fundamental thermodynamic similarity between thermoelectric and photovoltaic energy converters which, at open circuit, can be represented as isochoric engines generating a finite chemical potential which appears as…
We present a multiscale approach for modeling an intermediate-band solar cell based on a GaAs-GaAlAs quantum dot superlattice of cubic symmetry. Our framework combines high-accuracy theoretical calculations of the superlattice band…
Solar cell thermal recovery is recently attracting more and more attention in the research community as a viable solution to increase photovoltaic efficiency. However the convenience of the implementation of such strategy is bound to the…
For efficient photovoltaic conversion, it is important to understand how quantum entropy-related quantities evolve during the photovoltaic process. In this study, using a double quantum dot (DQD) photocell model, we explored the dynamic…
Power-conversion efficiency is a critical factor for the wider adoption of solar-cell modules. Thin-film solar cells are cheap and easy to manufacture, but their efficiencies are low compared to crystalline-silicon solar cells and need to…
In this paper we present a comprehensive theoretical description of molecular spectral converters in the specific context of Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs). The theoretical model is an extension to a three-level system interacting…
We analyze the latest published solar neutrino data assuming an arbitrary neutrino oscillation/conversion mechanism suppresses the electron neutrino flux from the Sun independent of energy. For oscillations/transitions into active (sterile)…
Solar modules are currently characterized at standard test conditions (STC), defined at 1000W/m2 and 25 {\deg}C. However, solar modules in actual outdoor operating conditions typically operate at lower illumination and higher temperature…
Polymer solar cells are considered as very promising candidates for development of photovoltaics of the future. They are cheap and easy to fabricate. However, up to now, they possess fundamental drawback: low effectiveness. In the most…
To obtain significant increases in the Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) of solar cells, future cell research and development should be based on the concomitant improvement of multiple material properties, rather than on the…
Thin-film solar cells that are considered as the second generation of solar cells are known for their low cost and acceptable efficiency. In this technology, semiconductor layers with a thickness of micrometer are deposited on thick enough…
We theoretically study the efficiency limits and performance characteristics of few-layer graphene-semiconductor solar cells (FGSCs) based on a Schottky contact device structure. We model and compare the energy conversion efficiency of…
Maximizing the power conversion efficiency of solar cells plays a crucial role in upscaling solar energy production. Combining two or more solar cells with different bandgaps into a multi-junction tandem solar cells lowers thermalization…
Current methods for evaluating solar cell efficiencies cannot be applied to extremely thin cells where phenomena from the realm of near field optics prevail. We overcome this problem by offering a rigorous electromagnetic calculation of…
The radiative recombination, Shokley-Read recombination, frontal-surface and rear-surface recombination and the recombination at the heterojunction boundaries and the recombination in the space charge region are considered in the…
Solar cells are engines converting energy supplied by the photon flux into work. All known types of macroscopic engines and turbines are also self-oscillating systems which yield a periodic motion at the expense of a usually non-periodic…
Solar energy is rapidly becoming a robust renewable energy source to conventional finite resources such as fossil fuels. It is harvested using interconnected photovoltaic panels, typically built with crystalline silicon cells, i.e.…
A coupled optoelectronic model was implemented along with the differential evolution algorithm to assess the efficacy of grading the bandgap of the CZTSSe layer for enhancing the power conversion efficiency of thin-film CZTSSe solar cells.…
An analytical solution for the optical efficiency of a luminescent solar concentrator is presented. Due to a large number of input parameters and their complex effect on the device efficiency numerical simulations have been previously used…