Applicability of quasi-equilibrium models to advanced photovoltaic concepts

Andreas Pusch

doi:10.1117/12.2585160

5 March 2021 Applicability of quasi-equilibrium models to advanced photovoltaic concepts

Andreas Pusch

Proceedings Volume 11681, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices X; 116810I (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2585160
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2021, Online Only

Abstract

Solar energy conversion is a nonequilibrium process in which high temperature light is converted into low temperature electrical power. Yet, photovoltaic cells are usually treated in an equilibrium thermodynamics formalism, assuming quasi-equilibrium electron distributions. I will unravel how different timescales of interaction determine the applicability of quasi-equilibrium models in the photovoltaic concepts of multi-exciton generation, hot carrier, and intermediate band solar cells. In hot carrier solar cells, the sparsity of the solar flux plays a key role in establishing quasi-equilibrium, making the local density of optical states a critical parameter for enabling high efficiencies.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Andreas Pusch "Applicability of quasi-equilibrium models to advanced photovoltaic concepts", Proc. SPIE 11681, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices X, 116810I (5 March 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2585160

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