Solar energy enhancement using down-converting particles: A rigorous approach

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3592297· OSTI ID:1065589

Abrams, Ze’ev R. ^[1]; Niv, Avi ^[2]; Zhang, Xiang ^[3]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). National Science Foundation (NSF) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center and Applied Science and Technology
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). National Science Foundation (NSF) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center
3. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). National Science Foundation (NSF) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center and Materials Sciences Division

The efficiency of a single band-gap solar cell is specified by the Shockley-Queisser limit, which defines the maximal output power as a function of the solar cell’s band-gap. One way to overcome this limit is by using a down-conversion process whereupon a high energy photon is split into two lower energy photons, thereby increasing the current of the cell. Here, we provide a full analysis of the possible efficiency increase when placing a down-converting material on top of a pre-existing solar cell. We show that a total 7% efficiency improvement is possible for a perfectly efficient down-converting material. Our analysis covers both lossless and lossy theoretical limits, as well as a thermodynamic evaluation. Finally, we describe the advantages of nanoparticles as a possible choice for a down-converting material.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Light-Material Interactions in Energy Conversion (LMI)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0001293; AC02-05CH11231; CMMI-0751621
• OSTI ID: 1065589
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 11; Related Information: LMI partners with California Institute of Technology (lead); Harvard University; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; ISSN 0021-8979: JAPIAU
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
solar (photovoltaic)
solid state lighting
phonons
thermal conductivity
electrodes - solar
materials and chemistry by design
optics
synthesis (novel materials)
synthesis (self-assembly)