Issue 2, 2017

On thermodynamic inconsistencies in several photosynthetic and solar cell models and how to fix them

Abstract

We analyze standard theoretical models of solar energy conversion developed to study solar cells and photosynthetic systems. We show that assuming the energy transfer to the reaction center/electric circuit is through a decay rate or “sink”, contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. We put forward a thermodynamically consistent alternative by explicitly considering parts of the reaction center/electric circuit and by employing a Hamiltonian transfer. The predicted energy transfer by the new scheme differs from the one found using a decay rate, casting doubts on the validity of the conclusions obtained by models which include the latter.

Graphical abstract: On thermodynamic inconsistencies in several photosynthetic and solar cell models and how to fix them

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
29 Sep 2016
Accepted
21 Oct 2016
First published
26 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2017,8, 1008-1014

On thermodynamic inconsistencies in several photosynthetic and solar cell models and how to fix them

D. Gelbwaser-Klimovsky and A. Aspuru-Guzik, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 1008 DOI: 10.1039/C6SC04350J

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements