Everyman's guide to third generation efficiencies
Everyman's guide to third generation efficiencies
A number of 'third generation' mechanisms that have been suggested to improve the solar cell efficiency include impact ionisation, hot electrons, impurities, intermediate bands or quantum wells. This paper shows how some of these efficiencies might be estimated using general thermodynamic values for the maximum free energy which can be generated by a quantum solar converter. The aim is to obtain 'rule of thumb' estimates which are valid for generic groups of devices rather than for specific structures. The principal novel element is a simple expression for the open circuit voltage which is obtained by generalising an approximation which follows from the detailed balance theory for the conventional one photon → one electron-hole pair scenario, to more general situations. Bv modelling the device with the use of an equivalent circuit optimal the usual laws which govern voltages and currents in electrical circuits can be re-interpreted in terms of thermodynamic quantities.
device modelling, electron-hole pair, hot electron, impact ionisation impurities, intermediate band, maximum free energy, open circuit voltage, photon, quantum solar converter, quantum well, solar cell efficiency, third generation efficiency
4990181603
266-269
Markvart, T.
f21e82ec-4e3b-4485-9f27-ffc0102fdf1c
Landsberg, P.T.
430ba980-a590-4d7c-8c03-9ecf192c21d3
May 2003
Markvart, T.
f21e82ec-4e3b-4485-9f27-ffc0102fdf1c
Landsberg, P.T.
430ba980-a590-4d7c-8c03-9ecf192c21d3
Markvart, T. and Landsberg, P.T.
(2003)
Everyman's guide to third generation efficiencies.
In Proceedings of 3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
vol. 1,
IEEE.
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
A number of 'third generation' mechanisms that have been suggested to improve the solar cell efficiency include impact ionisation, hot electrons, impurities, intermediate bands or quantum wells. This paper shows how some of these efficiencies might be estimated using general thermodynamic values for the maximum free energy which can be generated by a quantum solar converter. The aim is to obtain 'rule of thumb' estimates which are valid for generic groups of devices rather than for specific structures. The principal novel element is a simple expression for the open circuit voltage which is obtained by generalising an approximation which follows from the detailed balance theory for the conventional one photon → one electron-hole pair scenario, to more general situations. Bv modelling the device with the use of an equivalent circuit optimal the usual laws which govern voltages and currents in electrical circuits can be re-interpreted in terms of thermodynamic quantities.
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Published date: May 2003
Venue - Dates:
3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Osaka, Japan, 2003-05-11 - 2003-05-18
Keywords:
device modelling, electron-hole pair, hot electron, impact ionisation impurities, intermediate band, maximum free energy, open circuit voltage, photon, quantum solar converter, quantum well, solar cell efficiency, third generation efficiency
Organisations:
Engineering Mats & Surface Engineerg Gp
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 48519
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/48519
ISBN: 4990181603
PURE UUID: fe44a168-7ac8-467e-b679-b825fd4e0b26
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Date deposited: 28 Sep 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:47
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Author:
P.T. Landsberg
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