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SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS HAVE INHERENT LIMITATIONS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF RESEARCH.
Why in the news?
Research aims to overcome limitations in solar cell efficiency by surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit using innovative methods.
About challenges in Solar Photovoltaics:
- Shockley-Queisser Limit: Defines the maximum capacity of a solar cell to produce electricity.
- Fundamental Operation: Solar cells utilise semiconducting materials to convert sunlight into electrical energy.
- Electron-Hole Pairs: Interaction of sunlight with semiconductors creates electron-hole pairs, the basis of photocurrent.
| What is The Shockley-Queisser limit?
● Definition: The Shockley-Queisser limit is the maximum efficiency of solar cells. ● Principle: Based on the principle of detailed balance. ● Efficiency: Limits efficiency to 33.7% for a single-junction solar cell with a 1.4 eV band gap and AM1.5 spectrum. What are solar cells ? ● Solar cell consists of n-type and p-type silicon layers. ● Photon Interaction: Sunlight (photons) hits the cell’s upper surface. ● Energy Transfer: Photons transfer energy to electrons in the p-type layer. ● Electron Movement: Electrons jump across the barrier into the n-type layer and flow into the circuit. ● Electricity Generation: Electrons flowing in the circuit power the connected device, such as a lamp. |
