Theoretical modeling of energy loss in solar cells shows atomic vibrations hurt efficiency
Monday, June 13, 2016 - 06:31
in Physics & Chemistry
When sunlight is absorbed in a solar cell, some of the energy that could be used is lost as heat. Because this complex loss process occurs in a fraction of a second, characterizing it has long been a challenge. For the first time, accurate first-principles theoretical calculations of the energy lost to heat in silicon, the primary component of solar cells, have been performed. This understanding should allow development of devices with significantly improved solar energy conversion efficiency.