Andrew J Musser

Optoelectronics Group, University of Cambridge

Boosting the Future

Efficiency of Solar

Technology

15.01.2014

Solar Cells and Thermalization

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Schockley-Quiesser limit sets the maximum efficiency at ~33%...

but can we do better?

Brute Force with Tandem Devices…

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Difficult to design, expensive to make

… or Harness the Power of Quantum Mechanics

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Use ‘singlet exciton fission’ to split the energy from

blue photons in two and beat the Schockley-Queisser limit

Progress in Device Efficiency

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Nayak et al., Advanced Materials 2013

Amorphous Si

Polycryst. Si

Cryst Si (21%)