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Shockley–Queisser limit

About: Shockley–Queisser limit is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 235 publications have been published within this topic receiving 21100 citations. The topic is also known as: detailed balance limit & Shockley Queisser Efficiency Limit.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an upper theoretical limit for the efficiency of p−n junction solar energy converters, called the detailed balance limit of efficiency, has been calculated for an ideal case in which the only recombination mechanism of holeelectron pairs is radiative as required by the principle of detailed balance.
Abstract: In order to find an upper theoretical limit for the efficiency of p‐n junction solar energy converters, a limiting efficiency, called the detailed balance limit of efficiency, has been calculated for an ideal case in which the only recombination mechanism of hole‐electron pairs is radiative as required by the principle of detailed balance. The efficiency is also calculated for the case in which radiative recombination is only a fixed fraction fc of the total recombination, the rest being nonradiative. Efficiencies at the matched loads have been calculated with band gap and fc as parameters, the sun and cell being assumed to be blackbodies with temperatures of 6000°K and 300°K, respectively. The maximum efficiency is found to be 30% for an energy gap of 1.1 ev and fc = 1. Actual junctions do not obey the predicted current‐voltage relationship, and reasons for the difference and its relevance to efficiency are discussed.

11,071 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an analysis of such a structure under ideal conditions and prove that its efficiency can exceed not only the Shockley and Queisser efficiency for ideal solar cells but also that for ideal two-terminal tandem cells which use two semiconductors, as well as that predicted for ideal cells with quantum efficiency above one but less than two.
Abstract: Recent attempts have been made to increase the efficiency of solar cells by introducing an impurity level in the semiconductor band gap. We present an analysis of such a structure under ideal conditions. We prove that its efficiency can exceed not only the Shockley and Queisser efficiency for ideal solar cells but also that for ideal two-terminal tandem cells which use two semiconductors, as well as that predicted for ideal cells with quantum efficiency above one but less than two.

2,226 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The detailed balance limit for solar cells presented by Shockley and Queisser in 1961 describes the ultimate efficiency of an ideal p-n junction solar cell illuminated by a black body with a surface temperature of 6000 K as mentioned in this paper.

1,037 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that a great solar cell also needs to be a great light-emitting diode, which is a necessity for approaching the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) efficiency limit.
Abstract: Absorbed sunlight in a solar cell produces electrons and holes. However, at the open-circuit condition, the carriers have no place to go. They build up in density, and ideally, they emit external luminescence that exactly balances the incoming sunlight. Any additional nonradiative recombination impairs the carrier density buildup, limiting the open-circuit voltage. At open circuit, efficient external luminescence is an indicator of low internal optical losses. Thus, efficient external luminescence is, counterintuitively, a necessity for approaching the Shockley–Queisser (SQ) efficiency limit. A great solar cell also needs to be a great light-emitting diode. Owing to the narrow escape cone for light, efficient external emission requires repeated attempts and demands an internal luminescence efficiency 90%.

896 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the fundamental limit of the performance of a tandem structure is presented, taking into account the fact that a particular cell is not only illuminated by part of the solar irradiance but also by the electroluminescence of other cells of the set.
Abstract: The fundamental (detailed balance) limit of the performance of a tandem structure is presented. The model takes into account the fact that a particular cell is not only illuminated by part of the solar irradiance but also by the electroluminescence of other cells of the set. Whereas, under 1 sun irradiance, a single solar cell only converts 30% of the solar energy, a tandem structure of two cells can convert 42%, a tandem structure of three cells can convert 49%, etc. Under the highest possible light concentration, these efficiencies are 40% (one cell), 55% (two cells), 63% (three cells), etc. The model also allows us to predict the ideal efficiency of a stack with an infinite number of solar cells. Such a tandem system can convert 68% of the unconcentrated sunlight, and 86% of the concentrated sunlight.

855 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
20221
202120
202011
201914
201810
201718