Enhancing the performance of silicon solar cells via the application of passive luminescence conversion layers Richards, B S [Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 (Australia)] 14 SOLAR ENERGY; SILICON SOLAR CELLS; LUMINESCENCE; PHOTONS; PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT; SILICON; USES; QUANTUM EFFICIENCY; LAYERS; PERFORMANCE This paper discusses ways of reducing the two major losses encountered in a single-junction photovoltaic (PV) device-that of sub-band gap transmission and lattice thermalisation losses-via the application of passive luminescent devices called up- and down-converters, respectively. Down-conversion (DC) results in the generation of more than one lower energy photon being generated per incident high-energy photon, while up-conversion (UC) generates one photon with energy for every two or more sub-band gap photons absorbed. A related process of wavelength down-shifting (DS) is similar to DC except that the external quantum efficiency of the DS process is less than unity. (author) Available from doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2006.03.035 Netherlands 2006-09-22 English Journal Article Journal Name: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells; Journal Volume: 90; Journal Issue: 15; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved Medium: X; Size: page(s) 2329-2337 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOLMAT.2006.03.035 [] 15 90 Journal ID: ISSN 0927-0248; SEMCEQ; TRN: NL06V3943 ECN 2010-01-01 20977281