• UGI USER
  • Mar 14, 2024
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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.