Abstract
The internal physics of a solar cell changes as it approaches the fundamental Shockley-Queisser limit. Photonic considerations overtake electronic ones, as an intense internal and external luminescence requires careful photon management. Counter-intuitively, maximizing light extraction increases voltage and therefore efficiency. Until 2010 the one-sun, single-junction efficiency record was set by a GaAs solar cell with an efficiency of 26.4% and an open-circuit voltage VOC= 1.03 V. Alta Devices recently improved the record with a GaAs cell that achieved 28.8% efficiency and VOC=1.12V, demonstrating the importance of photon management. Even with the best materials, the highest efficiencies cannot be achieved unless the solar cell is also designed to also be a good light emitting diode (LED). The physics of light extraction will be necessary in the next generation of high-efficiency solar cells.
Original language | American English |
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Pages | 1556-1559 |
Number of pages | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2012 |
Event | 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2012 - Austin, TX, United States Duration: 3 Jun 2012 → 8 Jun 2012 |
Conference
Conference | 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2012 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Austin, TX |
Period | 3/06/12 → 8/06/12 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/CP-5200-57536
Keywords
- external luminescence
- high efficiency
- open-circuit voltage
- photovoltaics
- Shockley-Queisser