Issue 5, 2013

Photovoltaic performance enhancement by external recycling of photon emission

Abstract

Experimental evidence of enhancing the performance of ultra-efficient solar cells by external recycling of photon emission is presented – predicated on the strategy of increasing cell open-circuit voltage by reducing radiative recombination. It is equivalent to restricting the angular range of photon emission, and can only be effective in photovoltaics with high external luminescent efficiency. This has precluded the voltage enhancement from being observable in today's photovoltaic technologies. As shown here, however, it is attainable with the latest generation of champion single-junction one sun thin-film GaAs cells. The measurements are understandable in terms of basic photovoltaic thermodynamics.

Graphical abstract: Photovoltaic performance enhancement by external recycling of photon emission

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
02 Feb 2013
Accepted
28 Mar 2013
First published
02 Apr 2013

Energy Environ. Sci., 2013,6, 1499-1503

Photovoltaic performance enhancement by external recycling of photon emission

A. Braun, E. A. Katz, D. Feuermann, B. M. Kayes and J. M. Gordon, Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 1499 DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40377G

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