Fundamental losses in solar cells

被引:431
作者
Hirst, Louise C. [1 ]
Ekins-Daukes, Nicholas J. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Dept Phys, London SW7 2AZ, England
来源
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS | 2011年 / 19卷 / 03期
基金
英国工程与自然科学研究理事会;
关键词
photovoltaics; solar cell; Carnot factor; monochromatic absorber; thermodynamics; DETAILED BALANCE LIMIT; ENERGY-CONVERSION; CARNOT FACTOR; EFFICIENCIES;
D O I
10.1002/pip.1024
中图分类号
TE [石油、天然气工业]; TK [能源与动力工程];
学科分类号
0807 ; 0820 ;
摘要
This paper considers intrinsic loss processes that lead to fundamental limits in solar cell efficiency. Five intrinsic loss processes are quantified, accounting for all incident solar radiation. An analytical approach is taken to highlight physical mechanisms, obscured in previous numerical studies. It is found that the free energy available per carrier is limited by a Carnot factor resulting from the conversion of thermal energy into entropy free work, a Boltzmann factor arising from the mismatch between absorption and emission angles and also carrier thermalisation. It is shown that in a degenerate band absorber, a free energy advantage is achieved over a discrete energy level absorber due to entropy transfer during carrier cooling. The non-absorption of photons with energy below the bandgap and photon emission from the device are shown to be current limiting processes. All losses are evaluated using the same approach providing a complete mathematical and graphical description of intrinsic mechanisms leading to limiting efficiency. Intrinsic losses in concentrator cells and spectrum splitting devices are considered and it is shown that dominant intrinsic losses are theoretically avoidable with novel device designs. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
引用
收藏
页码:286 / 293
页数:8
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