2019/01/30 by Robert Alicki, David Gelbwaser-Klimovsky, Alicki, Robert +5 · 1 citation
Energy · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech) #solar cell performance optimization
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1901.10873
openalex publication_date 2019/01/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Studies of emerging photovoltaics, such as organic and perovskite solar cells, have recently shown that the separation of photo-generated charge carriers is correlated with non-thermal, coherent oscillations within the illuminated device. We consider this experimental evidence in light of results from the theory of open quantum systems that point to the need for a self-oscillating internal capacitor, acting as a microscopic piston, to explain how an illuminated solar cell operates as an autonomous heat engine. We propose a picture of work extraction by photovoltaic devices that supersedes the quasi-static descriptions prevalent in the literature. Finally, we argue that such a dialogue between condensed matter physics and quantum thermodynamics may offer a guide for the design of new energy transducers.