2012/06/01 by Eli Yablonovitch, Owen D. Miller, Sarah Kurtz · 65 citations
Engineering · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films #Diode #Energy conversion efficiency #Limit (mathematics) #Mathematics #Open-circuit voltage #Optics #Optoelectronics #Photon #Photonics #Physics #Quantum efficiency #Quantum mechanics #Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices #Solar cell #Solar cell efficiency #Voltage #solar cell performance optimization
paper · doi:10.1109/pvsc.2012.6317891
openalex publication_date 2012/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The internal physics of a solar cell changes as it approaches the fundamental Shockley-Queisser limit. Photonic considerations overtake electronic ones, as an intense internal and external luminescence requires careful photon management. Counter-intuitively, maximizing light extraction increases voltage and therefore efficiency. Until 2010 the one-sun, single-junction efficiency record was set by a GaAs solar cell with an efficiency of 26.4% and an open-circuit voltage VOC= 1.03 V. Alta Devices recently improved the record with a GaAs cell that achieved 28.8% efficiency and VOC=1.12V, demonstrating the importance of photon management. Even with the best materials, the highest efficiencies cannot be achieved unless the solar cell is also designed to also be a good light emitting diode (LED). The physics of light extraction will be necessary in the next generation of high-efficiency solar cells.